11. Soft robotics#

This week I was fascinated by the technique to create inflatables with the transferpress in the Lab. So I started to try this. I remembered one video from the presentation last week in particular. The rotation pattern from the bootcamp Milano.

Research#

While watching this video I have to think of the movement of an armadillo.

via GIPHY

I have tried to imitate the rotation of an armadillo and create my own “armadillo air cushion” :)

This seems a bit funny at first. But as it evolves, it could become a kind of scarf that ergonomically adapts to the shoulder and neck.

Experiments#

First I cut simple shapes out of the flex foil (Polyurethane foil) to test the technique. Between the two pieces of foil I put baking paper with a small slit to later plug in the tube for the air filling.

20181205_154741 from Eva Ismer on Vimeo.

To produce the rotation pattern, the foil is folded accordingly and then fixed in the transfer press at 170 degrees Celsius for approx. 15 seconds.

My first inflatable “baby-armadillo” is born.....

via GIPHY

via GIPHY

Control it#

The air cushion is now to be controlled via an Arduino. This requires a pump that regulates the air supply.

Here is the sketch:

int Pumpe=6;
int taster=7;
int tasterstatus=0;

void setup() 
{
pinMode(Pumpe, OUTPUT);
pinMode(taster, INPUT);

}

void loop() 
{

 tasterstatus=digitalRead(taster);
 if (tasterstatus = HIGH)
{
  digitalWrite(Pumpe, HIGH);
  delay (5000);
  digitalWrite(Pumpe, LOW);
}
else
{
  digitalWrite(Pumpe, LOW);
}
}

And the circuit on the breadboard with 12 Volt, transistor, transmitter and switch:

In this video you can see the arduino controlled air pump.

20181211_124126 from Eva Ismer on Vimeo.

An interessting article about soft robotic