12. Soft robotics¶

The project has focused in the organic and geometrical pattern of my brand Mashua Project's logo. Main challenge was to adapt in Rhinoceros initial logo's vectors to a close pattern in such a way that the Air Flow could transit properly through the TPU folie or vynil and the Dragon Skin Silicone mold, I made. Finally, I did also tried to make a soft robotic with gelatine, but main challenge was sealing the top and bottom part of the mold without any air leak due to the drying process of this type of biomaterial is too fast, then I will try to make a smaller prototype mold and come out with a faster sealing method that suits to this type of biomaterial.

The Inspiration¶

The shape of the logo is inspired by the shipibo art of Peru, is characterized by the use of geometric shapes (kené or kewé), found in anaconda, fish and plants. To be able to see and make designs it is necessary to consume the plants that manifest the power of the anaconda, such as piripiri and ayahuasca. In kené are linked aesthetics and medicine, material and intangible, feminine and masculine. Almost 300 families of this community had returned to Cantagallo in Lima, PE after 4 years a big fire happened and they are organizing different activities in order to rebuilt their houses and finally called this area their land and territory. Due to the Climate Emergency of our Days many native communities are migrating to the urban areas and they are more vulnerable that urban inhabitants not only for the defcient conditions they live in, but also because they do have a radical change of natural ecosystem contiditions, they pass from living in the middle of nature to a dry, desertic and very polluted city..So ¿Why not creating a smart clothing collection that uses Soft Robotics mechanisms that emulates the strenght and resilience of this culture. Clothing that could extend if there is low to moderate temperature and air pollution and that contracts if there is high temperature and air pollution? Imagine this smart garments can protect their users, get closer to this culture and at the same time get connected to them because part of the income could be helping this community to rebuilt their village and improve their current quality of living. I think we deserve what we dream.

Materials and Tools¶

-TPU Purple Folie or Vynil¶

-High Precision Balance¶

-TPU Purple Folie or Vynil Printer (with SilhoutteStudio Software)¶

-Dragon Skin 10TM Medium Silicone(20min POT/ 4hrs Curation). Very important: Verify pot time and curation of the MIX.¶

-Gelatine's Recipe: 125ml Glycerine, 250grs Gelatine 250ml Distilled Water.¶

-Mold designed in Rhinoceros Software and made with 3 different type of acrylic thickness 2.5mm (pattern), 4mm (base) and 6mm (frame)¶

-Laser cutter machine Trotec Speedy 400¶

-Acrylic Adhesive Glue for joining acrylic mold parts. Make sure you do this process in a ventilated area.¶

-Vacuum degassing is recommended for Dragon Skin 10TM Medium Silicone.¶

-Some fabric for the base and for controlling the air flow expansion and biomechanics of the Silicone Soft Robotic Project.¶

-Recommended Personal Protective Equipment: Gloves, Apron, Mask for Respiratory Proteccion.¶

-Wooden sticks, glass containers for mixing silicone, glass or metallic mixer¶

-Alcohol for Silicone waste removal¶

Soft Robotics Project Images and Videos¶

Images¶

From Vimeo¶

Soft Robotics MARIA Antonieta from Estefania Cavalie on Vimeo.

Research - Useful links¶

Main References¶