Mimicking biological movements with soft robots

Designing a soft robot to move organically — to bend like a finger or twist like a wrist — has always been a process of trial and error. Now, researchers have developed a method to automatically design soft actuators based on the desired movement according to Science daily.

“Rather than designing these actuators empirically, we wanted a tool where you could plug in a motion and it would tell you how to design the actuator to achieve that motion,” said Katia Bertoldi, the John L. Loeb Associate Professor.

Designing a soft robot that can bend like a finger or knee may seem simple but the motion is actually incredibly complex.

“The design is so complicated because one actuator type is not enough to produce complex motions,” said Fionnuala Connolly, a graduate student. “You need a sequence of actuator segments, each performing a different motion and you want to actuate them using a single input.”

 The method developed by the team uses mathematical modeling of fluid-powered, fiber-reinforced actuators to optimize the design of an actuator to perform a certain motion. The team used this model to design a soft robot that bends like an index finger and twists like a thumb when powered by a single pressure source.

“This research streamlines the process of designing soft robots that can perform complex movements,” said Conor Walsh, the Associate Professor. “It can be used to design a robot arm that moves along a certain path or a wearable robot that assists with motion of a limb.”

The new methodology will be included in the Soft Robotic Toolkit, an online, open-source resource developed to assist researchers, educators and budding innovators to design, fabrication, model, characterize and control their own soft robots.

 

N.H.Kh

 

You might also like
Latest news
120 Palestinians martyred in seven Israeli massacres during the past 24 hours Sabbagh congratulates Attaf on renewal of confidence as Algerian Foreign Minister A solidarity event in Moscow for the Arab peoples in the face of Zionist attacks and crimes President Al-Assad accepts credentials of new Ambassador of South Africa Workshop about situation of the Financing Market for Micro and Small Enterprises kicks off Four martyred in initial toll in Israeli occupation new raid on Beirut city center Syria, Cuba discuss promoting trade ties Syria Receives Two Gold and Two Silver Medals at The Arab Kickboxing Tournament in Egypt   Terrorist Ben-Gvir Storms Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron “China's Views-The Syrian War and Europe” a Book by Chinese Researchers Translated by Safwan Bahloul Yemeni Forces Target an Israeli Enemy Base South of Occupied Palestine with a Ballistic Missile UN Calls for Accountability of Those Responsible for Targeting Humanitarian Workers in Gaza and Leba... Russia Strongly Condemns Israel's Aggression Against Palmyra... It is a Flagrant Violation of Syrian... 25 Martyrs and Dozens Wounded in the Occupation Bombing of Various Areas of the Gaza Strip Three European Countries Announce their Readiness to Arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if They are on The... Organization of Islamic Cooperation: Issuing Arrest Warrants Against Netanyahu and Gallant Contribut... The Feature Film (Temporary Darkness) Participates in The Hague Film Festival in the Netherlands Syrian Doctor Receives Best Clinical Presentation at Diabetic Foot Conference in Los Angeles Iravani: Israel's Repeated Attacks on Syrian Territory Have Reached an Unprecedented Level of Crimin... The State of Palestine Welcomes The Issuance of Two Arrest Warrants Against Netanyahu and Gallant