12 soft robotics
7th - 14th December 2021
11. Soft Robotics
research¶
Biomimicry is such an interesting application for soft robotics. By engineering as nature does, we can create beneficial tools to integrate sustainable solutions to our global problems, without causing damage. This article shows some technology mimicing the way chameleons change colour: which could be used to develop invisible clothing
heat transfer vinyl¶
I started with some baking paper, folding it into a pattern and cutting out a shape - this will be the shape the air will expose.
It will be sandwiched between the vinyl which needs to be cut about 1cm bigger than the paper pattern.
This is how the heatpress works: more baking paper needed to sandwich the sandwich, (so the vinyl can be removed smoothly)
silicone¶
I started with the helix shapes I used in the Textile Scaffold week because they keep inspiring me.
I wanted to do a helix type mold for a bracelet prototype like this textile actuator
I looked at this tutorial In Grasshopper, the helix starts from a circle, and uses rotating points upwards and then this motion is repeated through mirror:
In the end I decided not to continue with the bracelet idea because of lack of time.
rhino mold¶
I found this article which talks about using 3d printing to mimic the structural appearance of cacti and succulents to create water providing solutions or "Parahydropbic Performance": scientists are predicting massive water shortages in the future so these technologies are designed with the same engineering of the succulents.
I decided to work with some more basic shapes from the fan to create my mold.
In the end I removed the tube part which would be the straw to blown through because I will just make a hole and insert a tube once it's 3d printed
mixing silicone¶
The recipe is mixed with 2 parts :
1000g | 20-40g |
Measure the volume of the shape: pour water inside and measure it in a cup afterwards to calculate how much is needed. The mixture has 15mins working time before it will set. Also it needs to be poured with minimal chances of bubbles so should be poured in one area of the mold so it can spread by itself.
So I calculated for my model it has an area of 50ml
