Articles tagged with Soft Robotics
A team of engineers and scientists has developed a proof-of-concept for a magnetic tentacle robot that can navigate the narrow tubes of the lung, enabling doctors to take tissue samples or deliver cancer therapy. The device measures just 2 millimeters in diameter and uses an autonomous magnetic guidance system to guide it into place.
By slicing a block of elastomer with a periodic array of holes at a 45-degree angle, researchers discovered new properties and opened up new applications for this long-studied group of materials. This change in surface morphology can alter friction between the material and an underlying surface.
Researchers at Imperial College London developed a bendy robotic arm that can twist and turn in all directions, allowing for customizable shapes. The team created an augmented reality system to enhance user-friendliness, enabling users to easily configure the robot using motion tracking cameras and smartglasses.
A new study employs computer algorithms to design multimaterial structures mimicking natural designs for efficient actuators and energy absorbers. The approach enables the creation of sustainable devices with reusable and fully recoverable energy dissipators.
A team of researchers has designed a compound with 'wings' that makes polymers change color when stressed, allowing for the detection of stress before breakage. The new probe is more accurate in detecting mechanical stresses in both polymer gels and films, paving the way for tougher gel materials and nanoscale tension probes.
Developed by University of Cambridge researchers, these materials can sense strain, temperature and humidity, and partially repair themselves at room temperature. The low-cost materials have potential applications in robotics, tactile interfaces and wearable devices.
Researchers developed a novel wearable soft robotic armband that conveys artificial sensations of touch to prosthetic hands, enabling users to control multiple grasp functions simultaneously. The study showed improved time efficiency and precision in transporting objects, with haptic feedback being crucial for tasks.
Researchers from NC State University have demonstrated a new type of flexible robotic gripper that can lift delicate egg yolks without breaking them. The grippers use a kirigami technique to convert 2D sheets into curved 3D structures, allowing for precise control over the final shape and structure.
Researchers developed a soft, stretchable, self-powered thermometer that can be integrated into stretchable electronics and soft robots, enabling new human-machine interfaces and applications. The sensor has high sensitivity and quick response time, and can measure temperatures up to 200 degrees Celsius or as cold as -100 degrees Celsius.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new fabrication technique that enables the creation of soft actuators with 75% lower voltage requirements and 80% more payload capacity than current versions. This breakthrough could lead to the development of flying microrobots with improved performance and payload capabilities.
A new design for thermal actuators accelerates soft robotic movement by exploiting temperature-dependent bi-stability. The structure changes shape in response to heat, allowing for rapid snapping actions. Prototypes demonstrate rapid movement capabilities, paving the way for biomedical, prosthetic, and manufacturing applications.
A new floating robotic film can hoover oil spills at sea or remove contaminants from drinking water, using a pulsing motion inspired by water striders. The film is powered by light and fueled by water, making it sustainable and reusable.
A team at the University of Cambridge created a jelly-like material that can withstand compression forces equivalent to an elephant, while maintaining its original shape. The material's properties are seemingly contradictory, but can be controlled through changing the chemical structure of guest molecules.
Researchers have developed a new pressure sensor that can be stretched up to 50% while maintaining its sensing performance, enabling advanced robotics and prosthetic applications. The sensor is sensitive enough to detect the pressure of small objects and responds rapidly to changes in pressure.
A research team led by Barbara Mazzolai has created a soft, biodegradable, and soluble velcro that mimics the micro-hook structure of leaves on the 'catchweed' plant, enabling devices for environmental monitoring and precision farming. The technology reduces pesticide use and promotes sustainable agriculture practices.
Researchers developed a bioinspired system using ultrasound measurements to create customized assistance profiles for users. The exosuit significantly reduced metabolic energy of walking across various speeds and inclines.
Bubble casting is a new way to make soft robots using 'fancy balloons' that change shape in predictable ways when inflated with air. The researchers successfully cast star-shaped hands, coils and fingers, demonstrating the potential for soft robotics applications such as harvesting produce or providing personal care.
Researchers have developed a shape memory polymer that can store up to 17.9 J/g energy, allowing it to lift objects 5,000 times its own weight upon heating. The polymer's high energy density and low cost make it an ideal material for soft robotics, smart biomedical devices, and deployable space structures.
Researchers developed electrically-driven soft valves to control hydraulic soft actuators, enabling faster and more powerful control of macro- and small-scale hydraulic actuators. The breakthrough allows for unprecedented motion control of soft robots with internal volume ranging from hundreds of microliters to tens of milliliters.
Researchers from Nagoya Institute of Technology synthesized elastic polymer films with versatile elongation and fracture properties using photo-modulus patterning. The films' Young's modulus can be controlled by post-preparation photo reaction, making them suitable for diverse applications.
Scientists have discovered that geckos use their tails to recover from head-first crashes into rainforest trees, with implications for the design of agile robots. This versatile behavior allows geckos to stabilize themselves after impact and maintain control during gliding maneuvers.
A team of engineers and physicians developed a steerable catheter that can navigate the brain's arteries and blood vessels in any direction. The device was inspired by nature and successfully tested in pigs, with potential to treat brain aneurysms and other neurological conditions.
Researchers from SUTD developed Automated Fibre Embedding (AFE) to produce complex fibre and silicone composite structures for soft robotics. The AFE approach enables high precision fabrication without manual user intervention.
Researchers created a system of small autonomous robots that teach themselves to move forward as quickly as possible by continuously conducting small experiments. The results showed that this simple self-learning robot can tackle new situations and recover from damage, making it robust and scalable for applications in soft robotics.
Researchers propose a three-tiered categorization system to push soft robotics forward and increase its impact. The system includes Level 0 for exploratory studies, Level 1 for performance improvement, and Level 2 for applications beyond soft robotics.
Researchers from Singapore University of Technology and Design developed the largest range of silicone and epoxy hybrid resins for 3D printing wearable devices, biomedical equipment, and soft robotics. The new resins exhibit excellent interfacial toughness and mechanical properties.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new type of control system that allows soft-bodied robots to turn rigid on demand. This advancement could enable robots to combine the strength and precision of rigid robots with the fluidity and safety of soft ones, leading to improved performance in various tasks such as caring for human patients.
A new flexible and lightweight power system for soft robotics has been developed, paving the way for wearable assist devices. The electro-pneumatic pump is soft, bendable, low-cost, and easy to make, transforming lives of people with mobility issues.
Researchers have developed a Velcro-like fastener with a microscopic mushroom design that uses softer materials and still provides strong interlocking force. This design has potential for quiet operation and can be used in various applications such as diapers, soft robotics, and grippers for robots.
A new soft robotic gripper designed by researchers at the University of Georgia uses a unique twining motion to offer several advantages over existing robotic devices. The device has embedded sensors providing real-time feedback, enabling it to firmly grasp objects as small as 1 millimeter in diameter.
A new biohybrid model, developed by Ellen Roche and colleagues, accurately represents the interplay between the abdomen, diaphragm, lungs, and pleural space. The model enables precise tuning of pressure in each part of the system, allowing for the testing of various disease conditions and ventilator options.
Christoph Keplinger's research focuses on soft robotics, artificial muscles, and medical applications. He aims to rethink robotics by merging soft matter with advanced technologies.
Researchers developed a new kind of soft robot that can change its shape and move freely, combining benefits of soft robots with traditional robotics. The 'isoperimetric robot' has applications in homes, workplaces, disaster response, and space exploration.
Researchers developed an octopus-inspired soft robotic arm that can grip a wide range of objects, from eggs to iPhones. The device uses a flexible, tapered design and vacuum-based biomimetic suckers to attach to objects of various shapes and textures.
Researchers used soft robotic fingers to study deep-sea jellyfish, finding they expressed fewer stress-related genes when handled gently. This technology allows for less invasive and more accurate collection of ecological data in the ocean.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a super-stretchy, transparent and self-powering sensor that records complex human sensations. The 'artificial ionic skin' can measure strain, humidity and temperature changes, generating controlled ion movements that can be measured as electrical signals.
The PROBOSCIS project aims to develop a new generation of bioinspired robot manipulators capable of adapting to uncertain environments and performing various real-world grasping tasks. By studying the anatomy and movements of elephants' proboscis, researchers will create a soft robotic system with advanced tactile sensing capabilities.
Researchers at Aalto University trained a liquid crystal polymer to move and stick to objects of a given color using light-based conditioning. This breakthrough demonstrates the potential for materials to 'learn' and adapt to their environment.
A new robotic skin called ElectroSkin has been created, which can crawl across surfaces using artificial muscles and electrical charges. This innovative technology could lead to the development of soft robots for environmental monitoring, robot grippers, and wearable technologies.
Scientists at ETH Zurich created quadrupole magnetic building blocks that can be assembled into any two-dimensional shape using attractive south and north poles. These modules have potential applications in soft robotics and could be used to create robots controlled by a magnetic field.
The new material combines liquid metal and shape-morphing rubber, exhibiting adaptability and responsiveness to environmental changes. It also shows resilience and can detect damage, making it suitable for various applications in healthcare, wearables, and robots.
Researchers developed self-folding soft robots inspired by origami, using 3D-printed active hinges that can be programmed to fold at different temperatures. The Rollbot, a flat sheet that curls into a wheel and propels itself, demonstrates the method's capabilities.
A soft robotic exosuit can assist both walking and running by detecting the wearer's gait and providing appropriate assistance, reducing metabolic costs of walking and running by 9.3% and 4.0%, respectively. The device weighs only 11 pounds and enables a near-seamless transition between gaits.
A team of researchers developed a soft-bodied robot, LEeCH, inspired by land leeches that can climb vertical walls and transition to the other side. The robot's flexible body structure allows it to bend and elongate like a leech, enabling it to navigate complex terrain and obstacles.
Researchers repurposed shrink films to make strong grippers that can encapsulate materials or be incorporated into soft robotics. The grippers were made by patterned black ink onto polystyrene sheets, which then wrapped around objects to grip them.
Researchers at the University of Luxembourg have discovered a method to create an anti-ordered state in liquid crystals, which can exhibit unique properties such as shape-changing behavior. This breakthrough enables the development of novel materials with potential applications in soft robotics and artificial muscles.
Researchers at the University of Bath use sound waves to levitate particles, discovering multiple shapes they can assemble into when brought together. The team found that changing sound-wave frequency can manipulate clusters and influence emergent shape.
A perception system for soft robots has been developed, mimicking human body components to predict complex motions and forces. The system uses a motion capture system, neural network, and soft sensors to interpret sensor signals, enabling accurate predictions of robot movements.
A new modular soft robotic arm enables deep-sea researchers to interact with delicate sea life without damaging them. The system features a glove-controlled arm that can flex and move with unprecedented dexterity, allowing scientists to explore understudied ocean environments.
Researchers developed an integrated fabrication process to design soft robots on the millimeter scale with micrometer-scale features, enabling changes in structure, motion, and color. The new technology paves the way for a new generation of flexible microrobots for medical and environmental tasks.
Researchers designed and printed soft robotic manipulators for interacting with delicate deep-sea organisms, collecting samples at depths of up to 2224m. The innovative approach enables real-time modification and innovation in understanding fragile marine life.
Seoul National University researchers create a skin-like electronic system that wirelessly activates soft robots through a simple lamination process. The e-skin pair features wireless inter-skin communication and can perform four-state control signals over distances of more than 5 meters.
Researchers at UCSB have created a new type of actuator that combines speed and softness, enabling faster and more versatile soft robotic systems. The actuator, made from liquid-metal alloy conductors and magnetized polymer composites, allows for fast and low-voltage movement in various applications.
Researchers developed a robotic gripper combining gecko toes' adhesive properties with air-powered soft robots, enabling it to grasp various objects, including rough and dirty ones. The gripper's unique design maximizes surface contact area, ensuring a better grip.
Researchers at Harvard University have developed a platform for creating soft robots with embedded sensors that can sense movement, pressure, touch, and even temperature. This innovation enables complex sensing motifs to be easily integrated into soft robotic systems, opening new avenues to device design and fabrication.
A new study introduces a fully 3D-printed whisker sensor that detects underwater vortexes with high sensitivity. The sensor's design, made of polyurethane, graphene, and copper tape, mimics the whiskers of a sea animal.
Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have developed a soft robotic system that can provide isolated support to the right or left ventricle, addressing one-sided heart failure. The system combines rigid bracing with soft robotic actuators to help diseased heart chambers pump blood effectively.
Researchers at University of Sussex and Swansea University have created a way to morph liquid metal into physical shapes, opening up new possibilities in soft robotics and shape-changing displays. The invention uses electrical charges to program the liquid metal, allowing it to dynamically change shape and form complex geometries.
Developed by engineers at the University of California San Diego, the gripper combines capabilities to twist, sense, and build models of objects. Researchers tested it on an industrial robot, demonstrating its ability to manipulate a wide range of objects in low light conditions.
Soft robotic exosuits have been developed to assist stroke patients in walking with more efficiency and reduced asymmetry. The devices provide forward propulsion and correct problems with ankle dorsiflexion, a common issue affecting up to 20% of stroke survivors.