Researchers are increasingly interested in developing soft robots, which are often safer and more adaptable than those with only hard surfaces. Those qualities make soft robots highly appealing in many applications, including working with humans or grasping delicate objects. Nature provides frequent inspiration for these projects, particularly as developers consider the most feasible ways to achieve their goals.
Providing Durability and Flexibility
Many designers create flexible and durable soft robots to withstand demanding environments. That’s one reason these options are so popular in manufacturing facilities for picking and item-handling tasks. Researchers often use nature as inspiration since so many living creatures tolerate challenging conditions in the wild. In one case, a team used the pangolin to guide their design choices. They appreciated how the animal had overlapping scales with a soft layer of skin underneath. Those bodily characteristics allow the animal to quickly curl into a ball when needed.[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”block” ihc_mb_who=”unreg” ihc_mb_template=”3″ ]
The group built a pangolin-inspired robot that includes hard metal components but is still soft and flexible. The two-layered robot is approximately 2 centimeters long and rolls into a ball when exposed to a low-frequency magnetic field. In its rolled shape, the robot can move back and forth or heat up to provide thermal energy therapy. The warmth allows users to use the robot to stop bleeding or remove tumor tissue. The creators also envision eventually utilizing this innovation to move through a patient’s digestive system. Since the robot has a soft texture with hard components, it provides the necessary durability while remaining flexible enough to address multiple use cases.
Offering Versatility and Affordability
People use liquid silicone rubber (LSR) for applications ranging from respirator masks to electric toothbrushes. It’s also a popular choice for soft robots. Designers appreciate how it can handle temperatures ranging from -60 degrees Celsius to 180 degrees Celsius and perform well in wet or dry environments.
Since people can mold LSR into virtually any shape, it suits various use cases, including those where the robots make unusual but animal-inspired movements. Designers also use liquid silicone rubber for robotic components that must grip objects without breaking them. These inventions help companies increase output and meet client demands.
A Japanese research team recently made a soft robotic gripper that weighs only 200 grams and offers a 6812% payload-to-weight ratio. The designers took inspiration from rose petals that open during the day and close at night. They built the gripper to have a funnel design with a flexible skin that wraps tightly around an object to grab it.
The designers said this is a scalable robot and an affordable option, requiring a 3D printer for the gripper’s hard parts, plus liquid silicone rubber and a mold for the soft sections.
Soft Robots Will Remain in Demand
Soft robots have various attractive attributes that make them great choices for numerous applications. For example, using a soft robot inside a person’s body increases the chances of the invention doing its job without causing internal damage. Designing robots to grip objects without breaking them supports industrial leaders’ desire for strong returns on investment.
Nature will always provide plenty of ideas for how people can create soft and highly functional robots. These examples show some of the fascinating possibilities that occur when designers think creatively.
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