Fluidic innervation sensorizes structures from a single build material.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Robotics
• Mechanical Engineering

Background:

• Multifunctional materials with integrated sensing and programmable mechanical properties are crucial for advanced technologies.
• Existing fabrication methods limit the design complexity and sensing capabilities of these materials.
• There is a need for innovative approaches to create sophisticated sensorized materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel method for sensorizing architected materials using fluidic innervation.
• To enable the 3D printing of single-material structures with embedded sensing capabilities.
• To demonstrate the application of this technique in creating sensorized soft robotic actuators.

Main Methods:

• Embedding distributed networks of air-filled channels within the sparse geometry of architected materials.
• Utilizing pressure changes within these channels to monitor material deformation.
• Fabricating sensorized soft robotic actuators using handed shearing auxetics.
• Employing supervised learning to predict actuator kinematics from proprioceptive feedback.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated 3D printed sensorized structures from a single material.
• Demonstrated accurate prediction of soft robotic actuator kinematics using embedded sensor feedback.
• Showcased the ability to integrate structural, sensing, and actuation functionalities through material design alone.

Conclusions:

• Fluidic innervation offers a simplified approach to designing sensorized materials.
• This method facilitates the development of multifunctional materials for wearables, smart structures, and robotics.
• The technique allows for precise control over material properties and sensing capabilities.