8. Soft robotics¶
Research¶
Soft robotics is a field of robotics that focuses on building machines from flexible, adaptable, and compliant materials—often inspired by biology—rather than rigid metals and traditional mechanical parts. These robots bend, twist, inflate, stretch, grip, and move like natural organisms.
Soft robots are typically made from materials such as: • Silicone elastomers • Hydrogels • Rubber • Textiles • Air-bladder systems and inflatables • 3D printable flexible polymers
They often use air pressure, fluid channels, pneumatic systems, or shape-memory materials to create movement.
Unlike rigid robots, soft robots are safer around humans, can adapt to fragile or irregular objects, have more organic, lifelike movement, can squeeze into tight or complex spaces, and reduce impact during collisions (ideal for healthcare, agriculture, and wearable technology)
Soft robotics is especially influential in: • Medical devices (prosthetics, assistive devices, artificial muscles) • Wearable technology (exosuits, therapy devices) • Biologically inspired machines (octopus tentacles, starfish limbs) • Fashion design innovations (inflatable garments, animated clothing)
Soft robotics has influenced experimental fashion by: • Creating garments that move, inflate, or shape-shift • Enabling clothing that reacts to the environment (heat, touch, breath) • Supporting inclusive design (assistive clothing with grip or lift systems)
References & Inspiration¶
Craig Green... Craig Green is a British fashion designer widely recognized for his conceptual approach to menswear, where sculptural silhouettes, volume, and emotional depth converge. A key aspect of his work involves the use of inflated or inflatable-inspired forms—voluminous outerwear pieces that look as though they could be flotation devices or wearable architecture. In collaboration with Moncler’s Genius line-up, Green created outerwear that fused his sculptural aesthetic with Moncler’s heritage of down and protection. One notable collection presented outerwear pieces resembling “human flotation devices” or inflated life-rafts.
- Two images side-by-side
Fredrik Tjærandsen Fredrik Tjærandsen is a Norwegian fashion designer celebrated for his surreal, inflatable, bubble-like garments that captivated the global fashion industry during his BA graduation show at Central Saint Martins in 2019. His work sits at the intersection of sculpture, performance art, wearable architecture, and emotional storytelling, making him one of the most iconic voices in conceptual fashion of the last decade. In his viral 2019 BA collection: (1) Models walked wearing enormous inflated spheres in translucent colors (yellow, red, blue, green). (2) As they deflated the structures on the runway, the inflated bubbles collapsed into sculptural skirts, dresses, or wrapped volumes. (3) The audience witnessed a live metamorphosis — a performance in real time.
Tools¶
Process and workflow¶
My hand drawn sketches are ... Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Step¶
This model 1 was obtained by..
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."
Step¶
The laser cut nesting 2 was created using..
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
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
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.