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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 16, 2025

Rapid Manufacturing of Thin Soft Pneumatic Actuators and Robots

Rapid Manufacturing of Thin Soft Pneumatic Actuators and Robots

Published on: November 8, 2019

Powerful, soft combustion actuators for insect-scale robots.

Cameron A Aubin¹, Ronald H Heisser¹, Ofek Peretz^1,2

¹Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|September 14, 2023

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed a novel soft combustion microactuator for insect-scale robots. This technology enables robots to achieve high performance, including significant payload capacity and complex locomotion, overcoming limitations of current microactuators.

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Published on: December 19, 2016

Area of Science:

Robotics
Micro-robotics
Materials Science

Background:

Insect-scale robots face performance limitations due to current microactuator technology.
Existing microactuators are constrained by low-energy density power sources, resulting in small forces and displacements.
Scaling laws affect insect-scale robots, mirroring challenges seen in natural insects.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a novel microactuator for insect-scale robots.
To overcome the limitations of existing microactuator technologies by utilizing high-energy density chemical fuels.
To enhance the performance capabilities of insect-scale robots.

Main Methods:

Demonstration of a 325-milligram soft combustion microactuator.
Characterization of actuator performance, including displacement (140%), operating frequency (>100 Hz), and force generation (>9.5 N).
Integration of the microactuator into an insect-scale quadrupedal robot.

Main Results:

The soft combustion microactuator achieved significant displacements and high operating frequencies.
The insect-scale robot demonstrated advanced locomotion capabilities, including varied gait patterns and directional control.
The robot exhibited a remarkable payload capacity, 22 times its body weight, and navigated uneven terrain and obstacles.

Conclusions:

Soft combustion microactuators offer a viable solution for high-performance insect-scale robotics.
This technology enables insect-scale robots to overcome previous limitations in power, force, and mobility.
The developed microactuators pave the way for more capable and versatile insect-scale robotic systems.