Schlagwort: Soft Robotics

  • This Arduino-controlled soft robot gets around like an earthworm

    This Arduino-controlled soft robot gets around like an earthworm

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    This Arduino-controlled soft robot gets around like an earthworm

    Arduino Team — September 28th, 2020

    After studying the way a worm wiggles, Nicholas Lauer decided to create his own soft robotic version. What he came up with uses an Arduino Uno for control, inflating six 3D-printed segments sequentially to order to generate peristaltic motion for forward movement.

    The robotic worm uses a 12V mini diaphragm pump to provide inflation air, while a series of transistors and solenoid valves directly regulate the airflow into the chambers.

    The build looks pretty wild in the video below, and per Lauer’s write-up, you’re encouraged to experiment to see what kind of timing produces the most expedient motion. Code, STLs, and a detailed BOM are available on GitHub.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dSjeaOMtiQ?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

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    Website: LINK

  • UCSD engineers developed electrically-controlled soft robot actuators

    UCSD engineers developed electrically-controlled soft robot actuators

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    UCSD engineers developed electrically-controlled soft robot actuators

    Arduino Team — October 12th, 2019

    Engineers at the University of California San Diego have come up with a way to build soft robots that are compact, portable and multifunctional without the requirement for compressed air. 

    Instead, they’re using a system of tubular actuators made out of heat-sensitive liquid crystal elastomer sheets. Heating elements are placed between two layers of elastomer, which is then rolled up into a cylinder, allowing the tubular digit to bend and contract.

    With this novel method, they’ve been able to build a three-jaw gripper, as well as a robot that walks independently with four legs under Arduino control. While the grippers are slow at this point, taking 30 seconds to bend and minutes to return to their original position, the eventual goal is to have them react at the speed of human muscles.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikD8oywuYBg?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

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    Website: LINK