8. Soft robotics¶
Soft robotics represents a new generation of flexible and adaptable systems that interact with their environment and respond to movement and pressure naturally. Unlike traditional rigid robots, they are inspired by nature, from octopuses to plants, and open up vast possibilities in engineering, medicine, and interactive innovation. One exciting application is smart fashion, where clothing can move, adapt, or interact with the wearer, combining creative design with advanced technology.
Research¶
Soft robotics is an engineering field that utilizes flexible materials and bendable systems that interact with their environment in a way similar to living organisms. This field focuses on studying flexibility, movement, and adaptability, and understanding how to control soft materials through pneumatic, hydraulic, or electrical stimulation. This allows these systems to bend, compress, or expand smoothly, unlike the rigid, articulated movements of traditional robots.
This approach draws inspiration from nature, such as the movement of an octopus, the contraction of plants upon touch, and the stretching and relaxation of muscles. This enables soft robots to interact safely with humans and adapt to sensitive or irregular environments.
One of the fields that has begun to adopt this approach is fashion and smart clothing. Work is underway to integrate flexible materials and interactive systems directly into fabrics and textiles, allowing for the development of clothing that can move, provide physical support, and change according to the wearer's surroundings. This means that a garment is no longer just a static aesthetic, but a dynamic, living system that responds to the body, touch, air, or movement.
In fashion, soft robots can:
Add mobility support or physical rehabilitation functions through assistive clothing.
Create dynamic design effects such as contraction, expansion, extension, or shape changes during display or use.
Offer interactive clothing that changes based on the wearer's behavior or the surrounding environment.
Thus, clothing transforms from a wearable item into a functionally conscious, mobile object, blending art, technology, and bioengineering.
References & Inspiration¶
At this stage, we move from theoretical understanding to exploring real-world examples and innovative applications of soft robotics. This section aims to examine projects, designers, and research that have contributed to the development of this field, observing how flexible materials and soft motion can be transformed into usable, interactive systems. By examining these models, we gain a deeper understanding of design possibilities, manufacturing methods, and future applications, helping us to develop a clear vision and plan our experimental and application path.
Cecilia Laschi:
A researcher in soft robotics inspired by nature, she integrates flexible materials and biomechanical movement into robotic systems.
Conor Walsh:
A Harvard professor focused on soft, wearable robotic suits to support movement, combining smart fabrics and robots.
Ellen Roche:
A biomedical engineer is developing soft, wearable robots to support bodily functions — an important point of contact between smart fashion and biotechnology.
Barry Trimmer:
A researcher in soft, animal-inspired robotics, focusing on flexible movement and the design of bio-systems — suitable for the creative and textile side.
From screen to reality: Soft robots in the lab¶
This week we began our journey of discovery and enjoyment of soft robots in the laboratory, where we undertook several practical experiments that enabled us to see the movement, interaction, and flexibility of materials up close, and to transform theoretical concepts into a tangible and enjoyable experience.
First experiment was using ecoflex silicone to simulate soft robots:
In this experiment I used a premade 3D printed mold available in the lab.
Second experiment was using vinyl sheet:
First step was drawing on baking paper
After cutting two sheets of vinyl and but the baking paper between them then we We press it using a heat press.
then we remove the blastics from both sides, and cut the edges carfully to get the shape.
Final result & testing
Process and workflow¶
During this week, I conducted several practical experiments to explore different technologies used in soft robotics, which allowed me to understand movement, interaction, and material flexibility in a practical and direct way.
Contractile vacuole design¶
Idea & 2D design¶
This experiment was inspired by the contractile vacuole found in parameciums, a vital organelle that acts as a smart water management system within the cell. This vacuole expands to absorb excess water and then contracts to expel it from the cell, thus maintaining its internal balance. The design here aims to translate this natural principle into observable movement within a soft material, where a similar expansion and contraction mechanism is created through pressure changes or chemical reactions. This allows us to understand how biological systems can inspire us to develop soft robots that move autonomously, smoothly, and are responsive to their environment.
Idrew the designs using Rhino
Silicone casting¶
for silicon experiment I made an acrylic mold with vacuole shape with adding channels around.
you can see the 2d design which in the picture below
I used lazer cut machine to cut the acrylic
then I used glue to collect the pieces together
After I prepared the mold I started to prepare the Ecoflix silicone by weighing 15 g of material A and 15 g of material B for this mold.
next step is to Stir each ingredient separately, then add the two ingredients together and mix them well for one minute.
then I added the pigment to get the green color
after mix the pigment with the silicon I poured the silicone to the mold taking into account that the pouring should be done in the middle of the mold, and trying to keep your hand away from it as far as possible.
then we should let the silicon to dry at least 4 hours ( it will be better if we let it more hours to dry)
After drying we should glue both sides of the mold to gether to get the ful shape using the same steps of hte same silicone.
Final result¶
After full drying now we are redy to try the resulted shape, I test it with manual pump so to get more cMore clearly result you need to use elictric pump 5 volt.
Vinyl Sheet inflamatable chain¶
To complete the design step, I created a unit inspired by contractile vacuole to suit the shape of the hand chain.
Then I used lazer cut machin to cut the shape on baking paper.
In this step I used the heat press machine and you can see the tempreture that I used, it takes 30 seconds.
then I cut the edges to get the shape on vinyl sheets
And here is the test of the chambers. For this test I used 3volt air pump, you can notice how tiny the champers are.
Exploring Other Materials¶
Gelatine based Biosilicone casting¶
for geltine based biosilicone I used premade acrylic mold, and the basic recipe of biosilicone :
First recipe:
Gelatin : 48 g
glycerine: 30 g
water : 240 ml
After drying the both sides I glue it together using biosilicon
Final result test
Second recipe:
Gelatin : 30 g
glycerine: 40 g
water : 240 ml
Sodium alginate inflatables¶
For this Experiment I used the leftovers alginate mixture that we prepare in the Biofabricating week, I spray a little bit of calcium chloride solution on the casting sheet then I started to cast, after casting I spary again on the alginate so I felt that there is two layers then I started to tray useing the needle pump.
Plastic bags inflatables¶
For this experiments I used:
It is easy to use, just put the plastic you want to seal an press.
I made many shapes using this technique
Breathing Through Chemical Reaction¶
During this experiment, I explored the principle of self-inflating (inflatables) using a simple reaction between sodium bicarbonate and vinegar. I made a flexible, inflatable plastic bag and placed the two substances inside. As the reaction began, carbon dioxide gas started to expand within the structure, creating a gradual inflation motion similar to breathing. This experiment allowed me to understand how chemical reactions can be used to produce movement in soft robots. I also observed that controlling the shape and speed of the inflation depends directly on the amount of materials used and the design of the mold.
