Advances in biomimetic stimuli responsive soft grippers

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Robotics
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Soft grippers are increasingly developed as intelligent actuators, sensors, and biomedical tools.
• Stimuli-responsive materials enable sophisticated gripper functionalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review stimuli-responsive materials, fabrication methods, and applications of soft grippers.
• To highlight progress in specific materials like N-isopropylacrylamide hydrogel and shape-morphing elastomers.
• To provide an overview of high-throughput assembly techniques.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on stimuli-responsive soft grippers.
• Focus on materials including N-isopropylacrylamide hydrogel, liquid crystalline elastomers, and pneumatic elastomers.
• Discussion of fabrication methods like photolithography and direct printing.

Main Results:

• Detailed examination of stimuli-responsive grippers using various materials and actuation mechanisms.
• Overview of high-throughput fabrication techniques for creating these soft grippers.
• Identification of applications in multiscale smart soft actuators, manipulators, and biomedical devices.

Conclusions:

• Stimuli-responsive soft grippers represent a significant advancement in intelligent actuator technology.
• The reviewed materials and fabrication methods pave the way for versatile robotic and biomedical applications.
• Future developments are expected in tethered/untethered soft gripping robots.