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12. Soft robotics

‘Octobot' is the world's first soft-bodied robot

  

Hello,

Right after the week of Applications and Implications where we presented our final projects ideas, the week of Soft Robotics came that changed the mind of many sutdents I guess:)

It is very inspiring and gives new thoughts about our projects.

  

Research and inspirations

 

 

  

An article about Soft Robotics in Space by Yale University for NASA:}

  

An aticle "Softer is Harder: What Differentiates Soft Robotics from Hard Robotics?"

  

Here are Soft Robotics week recordings:

#Soft Robotics Lecture

  

#Recitation Embroidered Inflatables   

#Tutorial Soft Robotic Part I   

#Tutorial Soft Robotics Part II

  

Soft Robotics practice

The first trial was with a basic inflatable model:

What do we need:

  • Vynil sheets

  • baking paper

  • tubes

  • inflator

  

Basic Inflatable model

Things we need:

Step-by-step tuto:

  • Assemble all what you need (the list above)

  • Make your design and draw it on a baking paper, remember that where the baking paper is the part where the vynil is not glued, thats where the air will pass.

  • Cut the vynil regarding your design

  • Put the precut baking paper in between the two layers of vynil, make sure that the matte sides are inwards.

  • Cover with baking paper from both outside sides and iron it with a small temperature

  • Wait until it cooles down and take off the plastic sheet

  • Place the tubes and connect it to the manual inflator

  • Test it:) !

  

A small demonstration video in action:

  

Rotating Inflatable

This rotating inflatable gives more flexibility in possibilites for our projects. Was very nice to experiment with, but for me it didnt work very well, it inflates, but the triple layered folded parts didnt attach to each other after ironing well so the air would go out.

  

A small demonstration video in action:

  

Thank you, it was an interesting week, giving more ideas and opening wide more possibilites.


Last update: 2021-12-16