Fabrication of Soft Robotics by Additive Manufacturing: From Materials to Applications

Area of Science:

• Robotics and Materials Science
• Focus on soft robotics and additive manufacturing.

Background:

• Soft robotics utilizes compliant materials for enhanced adaptability and safety.
• Contrasts with traditional rigid robots, enabling delicate manipulation and complex locomotion.
• Additive manufacturing is a key fabrication technique for soft robots.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of soft robot development via additive manufacturing.
• To emphasize the chemical aspects of materials used in soft robotics.
• To cover the entire process from material selection to final application.

Main Methods:

• Review of material types, properties, and chemical compositions.
• Exploration of additive manufacturing fabrication methods and their chemical basis.
• Analysis of design strategies for optimizing soft robot performance.

Main Results:

• Detailed presentation of materials, their chemical roles, and applications.
• Discussion of fabrication techniques, including chemical underpinnings, pros, and cons.
• Overview of design optimization methods for soft robots.

Conclusions:

• Additive manufacturing is crucial for soft robot development.
• Material chemistry significantly influences soft robot performance.
• Soft robots have diverse applications in medicine, locomotion, manipulation, and wearables.