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

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.

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High-resolution 3D printing in seconds

Nature ◽

10.1038/d41586-020-03543-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 588 (7839) ◽

pp. 594-595

Author(s):

Cameron Darkes-Burkey ◽

Robert F. Shepherd

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

3D Printing

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Simulated filament shapes in embedded 3D printing

Soft Matter ◽

10.1039/d1sm00731a ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Leanne Friedrich ◽

Jonathan Seppala

Keyword(s):

3D Printing ◽

Soft Robots

Embedded 3D printing, wherein fluid inks are extruded into support baths, has enabled the manufacture of complex, custom structures ranging from cell-laden tissue analogues to soft robots. This method encompasses...

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Process development for high-resolution 3D-printing of bioresorbable vascular stents

10.1117/12.2252856 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Henry Oliver T. Ware ◽

Adam C. Farsheed ◽

Robert van Lith ◽

Evan Baker ◽

Guillermo Ameer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

3D Printing ◽

Process Development ◽

Vascular Stents

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Modular crawling robots using soft pneumatic actuators

Frontiers of Mechanical Engineering ◽

10.1007/s11465-020-0605-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nianfeng Wang ◽

Bicheng Chen ◽

Xiandong Ge ◽

Xianmin Zhang ◽

Wenbin Wang

Keyword(s):

3D Printing ◽

Numerical Models ◽

Pneumatic Actuators ◽

Axial Elongation ◽

Control Schemes ◽

Good Agreement

AbstractCrawling robots have elicited much attention in recent years due to their stable and efficient locomotion. In this work, several crawling robots are developed using two types of soft pneumatic actuators (SPAs), namely, an axial elongation SPA and a dual bending SPA. By constraining the deformation of the elastomeric chamber, the SPAs realize their prescribed motions, and the deformations subjected to pressures are characterized with numerical models. Experiments are performed for verification, and the results show good agreement. The SPAs are fabricated by casting and developed into crawling robots with 3D-printing connectors. Control schemes are presented, and crawling tests are performed. The speeds predicted by the numerical models agree well with the speeds in the experiments.

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Understanding and improving FDM 3D printing to fabricate high-resolution and optically transparent microfluidic devices

Lab on a Chip ◽

10.1039/d1lc00518a ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Reverson Fernandes Quero ◽

Gessica Domingos Silveira ◽

Jose Alberto Fracassi da Silva ◽

Dosil Pereira de Jesus

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

3D Printing ◽

Fused Deposition Modeling ◽

Microfluidic Devices ◽

Fused Deposition ◽

Optically Transparent ◽

Deposition Modeling

The fabrication of microfluidic devices through Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing has faced several challenges, mainly regarding obtaining microchannels with suitable transparency and sizes. Thus, the use of this...

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Deflected Versus Preshaped Soft Pneumatic Actuators: A Design and Performance Analysis Toward Reliable Soft Robots

Soft Robotics ◽

10.1089/soro.2020.0119 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Eduardo Perez-Guagnelli ◽

Dana D. Damian

Keyword(s):

Performance Analysis ◽

Soft Robots ◽

Pneumatic Actuators ◽

And Performance

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Design and Characterization of Edible Soft Robotic Candy Actuators

MRS Advances ◽

10.1557/adv.2018.557 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (50) ◽

pp. 3003-3009 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Aditya N. Sardesai ◽

Xavier M. Segel ◽

Matthew N. Baumholtz ◽

Yiheng Chen ◽

Ruhao Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

The Body ◽

Soft Robotics ◽

Compression Tests ◽

Pneumatic Actuators ◽

School Division ◽

Biologically Relevant ◽

Elementary Aged Children ◽

Design Competition ◽

Robotic Devices

ABSTRACTOne of the goals of soft robotics is the ability to interface with the human body. Traditionally, silicone materials have dominated the field of soft robotics. In order to shift to materials that are more compatible with the body, developments will have to be made into biodegradable and biocompatible soft robots. This investigation focused on developing gummy actuators which are biodegradable, edible, and tasty. Creating biodegradable and edible actuators can be both sold as an interactive candy product and also inform the design of implantable soft robotic devices. First, commercially available gelatin-based candies were recast into pneumatic actuators utilizing molds. Edible robotic devices were pneumatically actuated repeatedly (up to n=8 actuations) using a 150 psi power inflator. To improve upon the properties of actuators formed from commercially available candy, a novel gelatin-based formulation, termed the “Fordmula” was also developed and used to create functional actuators. To investigate the mechanics and functionality of the recast gummy material and the Fordmula, compression testing and biodegradation studies were performed. Mechanical compression tests showed that recast gummy materials had similar properties to commercially available candies and at low strain had similar behavior to traditional silicone materials. Degradation studies showed that actuation was possible within 15 minutes in a biologically relevant solution followed by complete dissolution of the actuator afterwards. A taste test with elementary aged children demonstrated the fun, edible, and educational appeal of the candy actuators. Edible actuator development was an entry and winning submission in the High School Division of the Soft Robotics Toolkit Design Competition hosted by Harvard University. Demonstration of edible soft robotic actuators created by middle and high school aged students shows the applicability of the Soft Robotics Toolkit for K12 STEM education.

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O Futuro de Soft Robotics: Uma Revisão Bibliográfica

10.5753/eri-mt.2019.8617 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Paulo Dos Santos ◽

Guilherme Da Silva ◽

Juliana Silva

Keyword(s):

Soft Robotics ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Soft Robots ◽

Medical Area ◽

The Future

This study seeks to explain a new theme that has a potential of great impact in the future. Soft robots are robots that, because they are soft and not limited by their axes, can go beyond how rigid robots work. The objective of this study is to present a review of the literature on soft robots. The literature shows little research on these robots, presenting difficulties mainly in the research of sensors and materials to be used in their construction. Despite the difficulties, the increase of research with this approach will have great impacts, mainly in the medical area.

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