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OmniSkins: Robotic skins that turn inanimate objects into multifunctional robots.
Joran W Booth1, Dylan Shah1, Jennifer C Case1,2
1School of Engineering and Applied Science, Yale University,10 Hillhouse Avenue, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
Science Robotics
|November 3, 2020
Summary
Researchers developed versatile robotic skins that wrap around soft bodies to enable adaptable locomotion and manipulation in natural environments. This innovation allows for diverse robot functions and gaits by reconfiguring the same robotic skins.
Area of Science:
- Robotics
- Materials Science
- Soft Robotics
Background:
- Robots traditionally struggle with unstructured natural environments due to limitations in versatility and adaptability.
- Current robotic systems often lack the dexterity to interact seamlessly with the natural world.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel robotic skin system for enhancing robot versatility and adaptability.
- To demonstrate a method for creating controllable soft robots with diverse functionalities.
Main Methods:
- Developed conformable robotic skins integrating actuation and sensing capabilities.
- Applied robotic skins to various soft bodies, exploring different attachment configurations.
- Combined multiple robotic skins to achieve complex motions and functions.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that reconfiguring the same robotic skin on different soft bodies yields distinct motions.
- Showcased the ability to create a multitude of controllable soft robots with varied functions.
- Successfully employed robotic skins for manipulation, locomotion, and wearable applications.
Conclusions:
- Robotic skins offer a versatile approach to designing adaptable soft robots.
- This method enables the creation of robots capable of navigating and interacting within natural environments.
- The reconfigurable nature of robotic skins provides a scalable solution for diverse robotic applications.
