Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 19, 2025

Design and Fabrication of an Elastomeric Unit for Soft Modular Robots in Minimally Invasive Surgery
Published on: November 14, 2015
Modeling of Deformable Objects for Robotic Manipulation: A Tutorial and Review
Veronica E Arriola-Rios1, Puren Guler2, Fanny Ficuciello3
1Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, UNAM Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
Abstract:
Manipulation of deformable objects has given rise to an important set of open problems in the field of robotics. Application areas include robotic surgery, household robotics, manufacturing, logistics, and agriculture, to name a few. Related research problems span modeling and estimation of an object's shape, estimation of an object's material properties, such as elasticity and plasticity, object tracking and state estimation during manipulation, and manipulation planning and control. In this survey article, we start by providing a tutorial on foundational aspects of models of shape and shape dynamics. We then use this as the basis for a review of existing work on learning and estimation of these models and on motion planning and control to achieve desired deformations. We also discuss potential future lines of work.
Related Concept Videos
Deformation of Member under Multiple Loadings
In the case of a member with a variable cross-section, the strain is not constant but depends on the position. The deformation of an...
Plastic Deformation in Circular Shafts
Plastic Deformations
Plastic Deformations
Deformation in a Circular Shaft
Virtual Work for a System of Connected Rigid Bodies
Next,...

