8. Soft robotics¶

Concept & Inspiration¶

Soft robotics focuses on creating flexible, adaptable, and often bio-inspired robotic structures using soft materials. Unlike traditional rigid robots, soft robots can deform, adapt to their environment, and interact safely with humans and delicate objects.

When I first heard the term "soft robotics," the first thing that came to mind was Baymax from Disney's Big Hero 6. Baymax embodies the key principles of soft robotics—he is inflatable, adaptive, and designed for human interaction. This idea of using air pressure to drive movement is central to my approach for this week's assignment.

Research¶

I explored various resources on soft robotics and inflatables to understand materials, structures, and fabrication techniques. Here are some key sources:

Introduction to Soft Robotics: Open Soft Machines provides an overview of soft robotics, highlighting key principles and applications.

Bio-Inspired Soft Robotics: Semantic Scholar discusses the bio-inspired approach in soft robotics.

Advanced Materials in Soft Robotics: IOP Science provides insights into materials such as silicone and TPU fabrics.

Tiny Bubbles in Soft Robotics: Princeton Research explores the use of air bubbles for soft robotic movement.

Baymax & Inflatable Robots: NBC News discusses the science behind inflatable robots like Baymax.

Inflatable Fashion & Wearables: Dana Ramler and Inflate UK showcase fashion applications of inflatables, inspiring my approach to wearable soft robotics.

Touch-Sensed Inflation: ACM Research explores interactive inflatables that respond to pressure.

Origami-Inspired Soft Robotics: USC Research looks at folding techniques for creating soft robotic movement.

get inspired!

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

materials comparison - Julija Karas - FabLab Bcn
Artistic intervention - Riley Cox - TextileLab Amsterdam
Zahia Albakri - CPF Makerspace
Viviane Labelle - EchoFab

Add your fav alumni's pages as references

References & Inspiration¶

For this week, I am designing two soft robotic prototypes:

A robotic flower that blooms – Inspired by nature, this prototype will use air pressure to open and close petals, mimicking the blooming process.

An inflatable wearable – Exploring soft robotics in fashion, I will experiment with creating inflatable designs

Soft Robotic Flower:

Pneumatic Soft Robotic Bloom – Demonstrates how soft robotic mechanisms can replicate the blooming of a flower.
Air-Powered Robotic Petals – Shows the inflation-based movement of petals to simulate natural blooming.
Soft Robotics Bloom Mechanism – Explores different pneumatic inflation techniques for flower-like movement.

Inflatable Fashion & Wearables:

Inflatable Style – Discusses the rise of inflatable fashion and how designers are experimenting with air-filled garments.
Kyon Design's Inflatable Projects – Showcases fashion and design projects incorporating inflatable elements for structural transformation.
DIY Inflatable Vest – A step-by-step guide on creating an inflatable vest, providing insights into materials and construction techniques.
Two images side-by-side

Tools¶

Process and workflow¶

Vinly Inflatables¶

To make inflatable I wanted to make something like paper art. you will need;

- Baking paper
- Heat transfer vinly sheet 
- Iron
- Scissors
- Pencil

Steps to follow

Cut the Baking paper in a square shape then fold it into a triangle
Use scissors to cut out shapes from your baking paper( I did a snowflake and hearts).
Cut 2 vinyl sheet larger than the baking paper
Stack the vinyl sheet, baking paper, and the other vinyl sheet in that order. At this time, ensure that any part of the baking paper where you’ll insert a straw sticks out a bit longer than the vinyl in that section.
Cover with a cloth and iron slowly.
Once ironing is complete and it has cooled slightly, peel off the clear sheet on the vinyl from both sides, this will make it easier when blowing air in.
Insert a straw and blow air into it. Observe how it bends.

Gelatine silicone inflatable¶

To make gelatine inflatable you will need;

- Gelatine
- Tray 
- Water
- Glicerine
- Baking paper