A Novel Fold-Based Design Approach toward Printable Soft Robotics Using Flexible 3D Printing Materials

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 1700172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Ang Wee Keong ◽  
Raye Yeow Chen Hua
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Design Approach ◽  
Soft Robotics

scholarly journals Soft Robotics: Soft Somatosensitive Actuators via Embedded 3D Printing (Adv. Mater. 15/2018)

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (15) ◽  
pp. 1870106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan L. Truby ◽  
Michael Wehner ◽  
Abigail K. Grosskopf ◽  
Daniel M. Vogt ◽  
Sebastien G. M. Uzel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Soft Robotics

(Invited) 3D Printing and Wireless Power Transfer Systems for Soft Robotics Applications

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (13) ◽  
pp. 55-58
Author(s):  
Sai Kiran Oruganti ◽  
Ajit Khosla
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Wireless Power Transfer ◽  
Soft Robotics ◽  
Power Transfer ◽  
Wireless Power

scholarly journals A review of 3D printing processes and materials for soft robotics

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 1345-1361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yee Ling Yap ◽  
Swee Leong Sing ◽  
Wai Yee Yeong
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Soft Robotics ◽  
Soft Robots ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
The Future ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Multiple Materials ◽  
Printing Processes ◽  
Printing Techniques

Purpose Soft robotics is currently a rapidly growing new field of robotics whereby the robots are fundamentally soft and elastically deformable. Fabrication of soft robots is currently challenging and highly time- and labor-intensive. Recent advancements in three-dimensional (3D) printing of soft materials and multi-materials have become the key to enable direct manufacturing of soft robots with sophisticated designs and functions. Hence, this paper aims to review the current 3D printing processes and materials for soft robotics applications, as well as the potentials of 3D printing technologies on 3D printed soft robotics. Design/methodology/approach The paper reviews the polymer 3D printing techniques and materials that have been used for the development of soft robotics. Current challenges to adopting 3D printing for soft robotics are also discussed. Next, the potentials of 3D printing technologies and the future outlooks of 3D printed soft robotics are presented. Findings This paper reviews five different 3D printing techniques and commonly used materials. The advantages and disadvantages of each technique for the soft robotic application are evaluated. The typical designs and geometries used by each technique are also summarized. There is an increasing trend of printing shape memory polymers, as well as multiple materials simultaneously using direct ink writing and material jetting techniques to produce robotics with varying stiffness values that range from intrinsically soft and highly compliant to rigid polymers. Although the recent work is done is still limited to experimentation and prototyping of 3D printed soft robotics, additive manufacturing could ultimately be used for the end-use and production of soft robotics. Originality/value The paper provides the current trend of how 3D printing techniques and materials are used particularly in the soft robotics application. The potentials of 3D printing technology on the soft robotic applications and the future outlooks of 3D printed soft robotics are also presented.

scholarly journals Soft Robotics: Miniature Pneumatic Actuators for Soft Robots by High‐Resolution Multimaterial 3D Printing (Adv. Mater. Technol. 10/2019)

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (10) ◽  
pp. 1970054
Author(s):  
Yuan‐Fang Zhang ◽  
Colin Ju‐Xiang Ng ◽  
Zhe Chen ◽  
Wang Zhang ◽  
Sahil Panjwani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Soft Robotics ◽  
Soft Robots ◽  
Pneumatic Actuators

A Review on Development of Soft Gripper Using 4D Printing

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 49-55
Author(s):  
Ashutosh Singh ◽  
◽  
Ravi Butola ◽  
Jitendra Bhaskar ◽  
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Shape Memory ◽  
Advanced Materials ◽  
Soft Robotics ◽  
4D Printing ◽  
Silicone Elastomers ◽  
System Architectures ◽  
Shape Memory Materials ◽  
End Effectors ◽  
Future Work

Improvements in soft robotics, materials, and flexible gripper technology made it possible for the soft grippers to advance rapidly. A brief analysis of soft robotic grippers featuring various material collections, physical rules, and system architectures is provided here. Soft gripping is divided into three technologies, enabling gripping with: a) actuation, b) material used, and c) Use of 3D printing in fabricating grippers. An informative analysis is provided of every form. Similar to stiff grippers, flexible and elastic end-effectors may also grab or control a broader variety of objects. The inherent versatility of the materials is increasingly being used to study advanced materials and soft structures, particularly silicone elastomers, shape-memory materials, active polymers, and gels, in the development of compact, simple, and more versatile grippers. For future work, enhanced structures, techniques, and senses play a prominent part.

scholarly journals Application of Multi-Material 3D Printing for Improved Functionality and Modularity of Open Source Low-Cost Prosthetics: A Case Study

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sachin Bijadi ◽  
Erik de Bruijn ◽  
Erik Y. Tempelman ◽  
Jos Oberdorf
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Design Approach ◽  
Prosthetic Hand ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
Manufacturing Method ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Modular Platform ◽  
Traditional Manufacturing

Low-cost 3D desktop printing, although still in its infancy, is rapidly maturing, with a wide range of applications. With its ease of production and affordability, it has led to development of a global maker culture, with the design and manufacture of artefacts by individuals as a collaborative & creative hobbyist practice. This has enabled mass customization of goods with the potential to disrupt conventional manufacturing, giving more people access to traditionally expensive products like prosthetics and medical devices [1], as is the case with e-NABLE, a global community providing open source prosthetics for people with upper limb deficiencies. However one of the major barriers to proliferation of 3D printing as a major manufacturing method is the limitation of compatible materials for use with the technology [2]. This places constraints on the design approach, as well as the complexity & functionality of artefacts that can be produced with 3D printing as compared to traditional manufacturing methods. As a result, devices like the e-NABLE Raptor Reloaded prosthetic hand, which is designed specifically to be produced via a single extruder FDM desktop 3D printer, have limited functionality as compared to conventional prosthetics, leading to low active use and prosthesis abandonment [3]. However, with the advent of multi-material desktop 3D printing, and increasing availability of a broader range of compatible materials (of varying characteristics) [2], there is scope for improving capabilities of low-cost prosthetics through the creation of more sophisticated multi-material functional integrated devices. This work documents the exploration of potential applications of multi-material 3D printing to improve production, capabilities and usability of low-cost open source prosthetics. Various material combinations were initially studied and functional enhancements for current 3D printed prosthetics were prototyped using key material combinations identified. Further, a user-centered design approach was utilized to develop a novel multi-material anthropomorphic prosthetic hand ‘ex_machina’ based on a modular platform architecture, to demonstrate the scope for reduced build complexity and improved dexterity & functional customization enabled by dual extrusion FDM desktop 3D printing. A full prototype was built & tested with a lead user, and results analyzed to determine scope for optimization.

scholarly journals An AM-oriented vehicle chassis’ A-Pillar Design Approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 318 ◽  
pp. 01027
Author(s):  
Agisilaos Kyriazis ◽  
Dimitrios Koulocheris ◽  
Stamatios Polydoras ◽  
Clio Vossou
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Modal Analysis ◽  
Dynamic Characteristics ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Design Approach ◽  
Inverse Design ◽  
Structural Systems ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Vehicle Chassis ◽  
Design Freedom

Design and production of highly demanding structural systems, such as the chassis, still rely on conventional forming and welding approaches, both because of their proven performance and the economies of scale achieved. Nevertheless, manufacturing of several chassis’ segments is also expected to soon gradually switch towards AM, for increased design freedom and optimized performance. This paper proposes an alternative design approach for the A-pillar, a typical passenger car chassis segment; a design suitable in form for AM and equally capable in terms of its dynamic behavior, without undermining the chassis’ safety. Prior A-pillar designs along with already published innovative AM-suited design approaches are reviewed. Moreover, these serve as a starting point for an inverse design towards the intended new AM-suited A-pillar alternative. Emphasis is given in the dynamic characteristics of the new structure, through proper modal analysis performed. Finally, the presented research concludes with a scaled-down assessment and verification prototype of the new design, planned to be built via FDM 3D Printing. The prototype is expected to demonstrate primary, as well as secondary/latent benefits from the use of AM in A-pillars, such as the increased diagonal visibility for drivers and passengers, arising from the redesigned, mesh-like form of the segment.

scholarly journals Three-dimensional printing of tactile sensors for soft robotics

MRS Bulletin ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinran Zhou ◽  
Pooi See Lee
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Tactile Sensor ◽  
Soft Robotics ◽  
Fabrication Method ◽  
Tactile Sensors ◽  
Three Dimensional Printing ◽  
Future Potential ◽  
Dimensional Printing ◽  
Printing Techniques

AbstractThree-dimensional (3D) printing has become an important fabrication method for soft robotics, due to its ability to make complex 3D structures from computer designs in simple steps and multimaterial co-deposition ability. In this article, the application of 3D printing techniques in the fabrication of four types of tactile sensors commonly used in soft robotics, including the piezoresistive tactile sensor, capacitive tactile sensor, piezoelectric tactile sensor, and triboelectric tactile sensor, will be discussed. The 3D printing mechanism, material, and structure for each type of sensor will be introduced, and the perspectives on the future potential of 3D printable tactile sensors will be discussed.

scholarly journals Embodied Intelligence in Soft Robotics Through Hardware Multifunctionality

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matteo Cianchetti
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Design Approach ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Soft Robotics ◽  
Attractive Alternative ◽  
Flexible Design ◽  
The Future ◽  
Interesting Approach ◽  
A Priority ◽  
Embodied Intelligence

The soft robotics community is currently wondering what the future of soft robotics is. Therefore, it is very important to identify the directions in which the community should focus its efforts to consolidate its impact. The identification of convincing applications is a priority, especially to demonstrate that some achievements already represent an attractive alternative to current technological approaches in specific scenarios. However, most of the added value of soft robotics has been only theoretically grasped. Embodied Intelligence, being of these theoretical principles, represents an interesting approach to fully exploit soft robotic’s potential, but a pragmatic application of this theory still remains difficult and very limited. A different design approach could be beneficial, i.e., the integration of a certain degree of continuous adaptability in the hardware functionalities of the robot, namely, a “flexible” design enabled by hardware components able to fulfill multiple functionalities. In this paper this concept of flexible design is introduced along with its main technological and theoretical basic elements. The potential of the approach is demonstrated through a biological comparison and the feasibility is supported by practical examples with state-of-the-art technologies.

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