Soft robots are robots comprised entirely or partially out of soft materials. Their soft nature provides these robots with unique qualities such as the ability to yield when pressed against a hard surface as well as protections against blunt trauma. Soft robots are not only more gentle, but also can bend and contort to a degree that rigid robots simply can not.

My ultimate goal is to have a robot that can be used in real world situations and environments.  In order to be...

Introduction

The objective of this project is the design and implementation of a soft manipulator robot based on hybrid actuation capable of interacting with delicate objects and with the ability to team up with humans with safety due to non-hazardous contacts. Due to the actuation system used in the design associated with a new control approach, simultaneous stiffness and position control is achieved in the manipulator.

Overview

In the next section, you can find information related to the motivation and inspiration...

The Soft Robotics Toolkit Control Board is an open source hardware platform that can be used to operate and control fluidic soft actuators, such as the PneuNets Bending Actuator or the Fiber-Reinforced Actuators described on this site. The purpose...

An Exploration into Soft Robotic 'Candy' Actuators

One of the goals of soft robotics is the ability to interface with the human body. Traditionally, silicone materials have dominated the field of soft robotics. In order to shift to materials that are more ...

InflatiBits is a modular construction toy that enables playful construction and exploration of pneumatically actuated kinematic systems. The set contains different building blocks based on soft robotics principles such as soft inflatable air-chambers, constraining elements, air-connectors, pressure sources, and sensor modules. The elements can be combined and actuated manually or through an optional Arduino-based control board. The board contains a motorized air-pump, solenoid valves and allows for connecting the sensor module to achieve more complex behaviors and motion patterns. The...

Like human hands, grippers enable robots to grasp, hold and manipulate various objects. Many times, grippers are customized to a specific tasks or purpose. For example, soft grippers are frequently utilized to handle delicate objects and are designed with soft, flexible or compliant materials in order to create a gentle touch.

The grippers proposed in this guide are designed to be assembled as a supplementary activity following the ...