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Design, fabrication and control of soft robots
Daniela Rus1, Michael T Tolley2
1Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Stata Center, Building 32, 32 Vassar Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Nature
|May 29, 2015
Summary
Engineers are developing soft robots inspired by nature's flexible designs, moving beyond rigid materials for advanced robotic systems. This field explores compliant materials for enhanced robotic capabilities and control.
Area of Science:
- Robotics
- Biomimicry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Traditional robotic systems rely on rigid materials for predictable performance.
- Natural systems, like cephalopods and vertebrates, utilize deformable bodies for superior manipulation and locomotion.
- These natural systems store elastic energy in compliant tissues for dynamic movement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in the field of soft robotics.
- To highlight the shift from rigid to compliant materials in robotic design.
- To explore nature-inspired approaches to robotic engineering.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature and research in soft robotics.
- Analysis of design principles from biological systems.
- Discussion of control strategies for soft-bodied robots.
Main Results:
- Emergence of soft robotics as a significant field.
- Demonstration of soft robots achieving complex tasks.
- Identification of key challenges and future directions in soft robotics.
Conclusions:
- Soft robotics offers a promising alternative to traditional rigid robots.
- Biomimicry provides valuable insights for designing high-performance soft robots.
- Further research is needed to fully realize the potential of soft robotic systems.
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