12. Soft robotics¶

This week, at the Textile Lab Lyon, we worked on making soft-robotics.

Research¶

Acording to Adriana Cabrera, who gave us a lecture based on her Ph.D and post-doc work, "soft robotics is an emergent field in robots and materials, that use pneumatics, fluids or soft actuation for control of bodies, simulating the smoothness and smartness that is found in living organisms". The examples below display the large spectrum of fields experimenting with soft robotics, from physical rehabilitation using soft robotics to increase movement; to architecture, to art and animation.

Projects¶

Thermovynil sample¶

In this experiment, I used the tree air flow scheme that allows the thermovynil to blend where air is pumped in it.

Failed experiment¶

I tried to replicate the sample that Charlotte, in our group had made, which consisted of making an accordeon of of baking paper and sandwiching it in thermovynil. The external parts needed to bound together like a book.

Casting silicon molds¶

Here is the process of mixing 1:1 of silicon rubber and an catalyzer. Louise and Capucine casted these molds, but when they inflated them, only one arm of the soft robot moved at all. Perhaps when gluing the silicon pieces together, the glue blocked air passage.

References¶

Last update: 2022-01-03