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8. Soft robotics

Research

describe what you see in this image

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weekly assignment
  • Document the concept, sketches, references (also to artistic and scientific articles)

  • Make a soft robotic sample, develop the pattern for the Inflatable and draw a sketch of the air flow:

    • build a pneumatic wrist brace (basic level) or
    • build a Soft Gripper (intermediate level) or
    • build and document a Pneumatic, digitally controlled system, electronics schematic, electronic control and code (advanced level) -design your own version of an inflatable / soft robot

  • Experiment with different materials, such as silicone, 3d printing, parchment paper, thermoadesive vynil, TPU fabrics, bioplastic, document your achievements and unexpected outcomes

  • Make a small video of your inflatable/soft robot working

  • Upload your digital design files (if any)
  • Build the electronic circuit to control your inflatable/soft robot (extra credit)
get inspired!

Check out and research alumni pages to betetr understand how to document and get inspired

Add your fav alumni's pages as references

References & Inspiration

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  • Two images side-by-side

describe what you see in this image describe what you see in this image


Tools

Projects

Tentaclebot

describe what you see in this image

The octopus is a fascinating creature. Since it has no skeleton and consists almost exclusively of soft muscles, it is considered to be extremely flexible and mobile. As a result, not only can it maneuver and swim in all directions, it can also grip a wide variety of objects in a form-fitting manner. This phenomenon is now adopted by the TentacleGripper. The bionic gripper consists of a soft silicone structure that can be controlled pneumatically. When it is supplied with compressed air, the tentacle bends inwards and can wrap itself around the item to be gripped in a form-fitting and gentle manner.

As with its natural role model, two rows of suction cups are attached to the inside of the silicone tentacles. While the small suction cups at the gripper tip have a passive effect, a vacuum can be applied to the larger suction cups, causing the object to adhere securely to the gripper. This allows the TentacleGripper to take up and hold a variety of different shapes.

I wanted to use the same principle to make a fun, soft tentacle robot that could be used as a pocket accesory

My sketch of how I imagine the tentacle

I designed in Solidworks the

describe what you see in this image describe what you see in this image


describe what you see in this image describe what you see in this image


So I decided to change my strategy and build someting like this animatronic

I made the mold from cut acrilic parts

I started by designing the soft oputside of the tentacle and sublimate the design

describe what you see in this image describe what you see in this image


I made the mold from cut acrilic parts

The Bubblecroc

I made the mold from cut acrilic parts

Weighting the water contained in the molds

The result of the pouring

Final result

Final result

The foldable extravaganza

Final result

Final result

Final result

Final result

Final result

Step

This model 1 was obtained by..

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Step

The laser cut nesting 2 was created using..

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Step

...

My hand drawn sketches are ...

This model 1 was obtained by..

The laser cut nesting 2 was created using..

footnote fabrication files

Fabrication files are a necessary element for evaluation. You can add the fabrication files at the bottom of the page and simply link them as a footnote. This was your work stays organised and files will be all together at the bottom of the page. Footnotes are created using [ ^ 1 ] (without spaces, and referenced as you see at the last chapter of this page) You can reference the fabrication files to multiple places on your page as you see for footnote nr. 2 also present in the Gallery.

3D Models

upload the 3d models of MakeHuman, Final 3d modelled body, 3D Scans, etc

Dita's Gown by Francis Bitonti Studio on Sketchfab

This schematic [^4] was obtained by..

This tutorial [^5] was created using..

footnote fabrication files

Fabrication files are a necessary element for evaluation. You can add the fabrication files at the bottom of the page and simply link them as a footnote. This was your work stays organised and files will be all together at the bottom of the page. Footnotes are created using [ ^ 1 ] (without spaces, and referenced as you see at the last chapter of this page) You can reference the fabrication files to multiple places on your page as you see for footnote nr. 2 also present in the Gallery.

Code Example

Use the three backticks to separate code.

// the setup function runs once when you press reset or power the board
void setup() {
  // initialize digital pin LED_BUILTIN as an output.
  pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT);
}

// the loop function runs over and over again forever
void loop() {
  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);   // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
  delay(1000);                       // wait for a second
  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW);    // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
  delay(1000);                       // wait for a second
}

Results

Video

From Vimeo

Sound Waves from George Gally (Radarboy) on Vimeo.

From Youtube

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Fabrication files

  1. File: xxx ↩↩

  2. File: xxx ↩↩