Soft Robotic Plant¶
Concept¶
The Soft Robotic Plant is an artificial organism that breathes. It is a pneumatic body that expands and contracts in response to environmental data (soil moisture from a real plant) and bioelectrical signals captured from living organisms, including plant electrical activity and human heartbeat. The system translates invisible inputs into visible movement. Air pressure becomes the mechanism through which data is embodied.
Rather than simulating a flower, the structure performs a mechanical interpretation of vitality.
System Components¶
The Soft Robotic Plant/Artificial Plant is composed of four main fabricated elements:
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Pneumatic Body Muscles pneumatic silicone actuators Silicone air chambers that inflate and deflate, producing the breathing movement of the artificial flower.
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Petals fabric reinforced silicone petals Flexible silicone petals reinforced with fabric to guide deformation and create controlled opening and closing.
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Pistil central structural element A central structural element that visually and mechanically organizes the flower morphology.
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Base / Calyx structural support + cable channels A 3D printed structure that supports the pneumatic body while concealing air tubes and electrical wiring.
Soft Robotic Flower Morphological Inspiration¶
The formal inspiration derives from jellyfish soft robotics, whose radial actuation and fluid deformation translate effectively into a floral morphology.
Like jellyfish robots, the structure relies on distributed air chambers to generate movement. Inflation creates expansion; deflation produces contraction. The resulting motion is smooth, organic, and continuous.
This adaptive softness allows the artificial flower to appear alive while remaining visibly technological.
Source: Yirmibesoglu, Osman & Oshiro, Tyler & Olson, Gina & Palmer, Camille & Mengüç, Yigit. (2019). Evaluation of 3D Printed Soft Robots in Radiation Environments and Comparison With Molded Counterparts. Frontiers in Robotics and AI. 6. 10.3389/frobt.2019.00040
Material¶
The soft body is cast in transparent liquid silicone rubber: R PRO GLASS – Crystal-Clear Liquid Silicone Rubber Reschimica
The material was selected for:
- Flexibility and elasticity
- Transparency (to reveal air deformation)
- Structural resistance under repeated inflation cycles
Base¶
Study for the base.
The base need to support the pneumatic flower while concealing air tubes and electrical wiring. The component will be 3D printed in transparent PLA, maintaining visual continuity with the silicone body. The structure ensures mechanical stability without compromising the softness of the upper element.