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Dontu S, Kanhere E, Stalin T, Dharmawan AG, Hegde C, Su J, Chen X, Magdassi S, Soh GS, Valdivia Y. Alvarado P. Applications of a vacuum-actuated multi-material hybrid soft gripper: lessons learnt from RoboSoft manipulation challenge. Front Robot AI 2024; 11:1356692. [PMID: 38863780 PMCID: PMC11165351 DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2024.1356692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Soft grippers are garnering increasing attention for their adeptness in conforming to diverse objects, particularly delicate items, without warranting precise force control. This attribute proves especially beneficial in unstructured environments and dynamic tasks such as food handling. Human hands, owing to their elevated dexterity and precise motor control, exhibit the ability to delicately manipulate complex food items, such as small or fragile objects, by dynamically adjusting their grasping configurations. Furthermore, with their rich sensory receptors and hand-eye coordination that provide valuable information involving the texture and form factor, real-time adjustments to avoid damage or spill during food handling appear seamless. Despite numerous endeavors to replicate these capabilities through robotic solutions involving soft grippers, matching human performance remains a formidable engineering challenge. Robotic competitions serve as an invaluable platform for pushing the boundaries of manipulation capabilities, simultaneously offering insights into the adoption of these solutions across diverse domains, including food handling. Serving as a proxy for the future transition of robotic solutions from the laboratory to the market, these competitions simulate real-world challenges. Since 2021, our research group has actively participated in RoboSoft competitions, securing victories in the Manipulation track in 2022 and 2023. Our success was propelled by the utilization of a modified iteration of our Retractable Nails Soft Gripper (RNSG), tailored to meet the specific requirements of each task. The integration of sensors and collaborative manipulators further enhanced the gripper's performance, facilitating the seamless execution of complex grasping tasks associated with food handling. This article encapsulates the experiential insights gained during the application of our highly versatile soft gripper in these competition environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saikrishna Dontu
- Digital Manufacturing and Design Centre, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore, Singapore
- Singapore-HUJ Alliance for Research and Enterprise (SHARE), The Smart Grippers for Soft Robotics (SGSR) Programme, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Elgar Kanhere
- Digital Manufacturing and Design Centre, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Thileepan Stalin
- Engineering Product Development Pillar, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Chidanand Hegde
- Singapore-HUJ Alliance for Research and Enterprise (SHARE), The Smart Grippers for Soft Robotics (SGSR) Programme, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jiangtao Su
- Singapore-HUJ Alliance for Research and Enterprise (SHARE), The Smart Grippers for Soft Robotics (SGSR) Programme, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Xiaodong Chen
- Singapore-HUJ Alliance for Research and Enterprise (SHARE), The Smart Grippers for Soft Robotics (SGSR) Programme, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shlomo Magdassi
- Singapore-HUJ Alliance for Research and Enterprise (SHARE), The Smart Grippers for Soft Robotics (SGSR) Programme, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gim Song Soh
- Engineering Product Development Pillar, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore, Singapore
- Robotics Innovation Laboratory, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Pablo Valdivia Y. Alvarado
- Digital Manufacturing and Design Centre, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore, Singapore
- Singapore-HUJ Alliance for Research and Enterprise (SHARE), The Smart Grippers for Soft Robotics (SGSR) Programme, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), Singapore, Singapore
- Engineering Product Development Pillar, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore, Singapore
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2
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Wu Y, Yang X, Gupta D, Alioglu MA, Qin M, Ozbolat V, Li Y, Ozbolat IT. Dissecting the Interplay Mechanism among Process Parameters toward the Biofabrication of High-Quality Shapes in Embedded Bioprinting. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2024; 34:2313088. [PMID: 38952568 PMCID: PMC11216718 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202313088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Embedded bioprinting overcomes the barriers associated with the conventional extrusion-based bioprinting process as it enables the direct deposition of bioinks in 3D inside a support bath by providing in situ self-support for deposited bioinks during bioprinting to prevent their collapse and deformation. Embedded bioprinting improves the shape quality of bioprinted constructs made up of soft materials and low-viscosity bioinks, leading to a promising strategy for better anatomical mimicry of tissues or organs. Herein, the interplay mechanism among the printing process parameters toward improved shape quality is critically reviewed. The impact of material properties of the support bath and bioink, printing conditions, cross-linking mechanisms, and post-printing treatment methods, on the printing fidelity, stability, and resolution of the structures is meticulously dissected and thoroughly discussed. Further, the potential scope and applications of this technology in the fields of bioprinting and regenerative medicine are presented. Finally, outstanding challenges and opportunities of embedded bioprinting as well as its promise for fabricating functional solid organs in the future are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wu
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xue Yang
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Deepak Gupta
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Mecit Altan Alioglu
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Minghao Qin
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Veli Ozbolat
- Biotechnology Research and Application Center, Cukurova University, Adana 01130, Turkey
- Ceyhan Engineering Faculty, Mechanical Engineering Department, Cukurova University, Adana 01330, Turkey
- Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences, Tissue Engineering Department, Cukurova University, Adana 01130, Turkey
| | - Yao Li
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Ibrahim T Ozbolat
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Materials Research Institute, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
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Young CA, O'Bannon M, Thomson SL. Three-Dimensional Printing of Ultrasoft Silicone with a Functional Stiffness Gradient. 3D PRINTING AND ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING 2024; 11:435-445. [PMID: 38689918 PMCID: PMC11057526 DOI: 10.1089/3dp.2022.0218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
A methodology for three-dimensionally printing ultrasoft silicone with a functional stiffness gradient is presented. Ultraviolet-cure silicone was deposited via two independently controlled extruders into a thixotropic, gel-like, silicone oil-based support matrix. Each extruder contained a different liquid silicone formulation. The extrusion rates were independently varied during printing such that the combined selectively deposited material contained different ratios of the two silicones, resulting in localized control of material stiffness. Tests to validate the process are reported, including tensile testing of homogeneous cubic specimens to quantify the range of material stiffness that could be printed, indentation testing of cuboid specimens to characterize printed stiffness gradients, and vibratory testing of synthetic multilayer vocal fold (VF) models to demonstrate that the method may be applied to the fabrication of biomechanical models for voice production research. The cubic specimens exhibited linear stress-strain data with tensile elasticity modulus values between 1.11 and 27.1 kPa, more than a factor of 20 in stiffness variation. The cuboid specimens exhibited material variations that were visually recognizable and quantifiable via indentation testing. The VF models withstood rigorous phonatory flow-induced vibration and exhibited vibratory characteristics comparable to those of previous models. Overall, while process refinements are needed, the results of these tests demonstrate the ability to print ultrasoft silicone with stiffness gradients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clayton A. Young
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - MeiLi O'Bannon
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - Scott L. Thomson
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
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Bhat A, Jaipurkar SS, Low LT, Yeow RCH. Reconfigurable Soft Pneumatic Actuators Using Extensible Fabric-Based Skins. Soft Robot 2023; 10:923-936. [PMID: 37042707 DOI: 10.1089/soro.2022.0089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of the field of soft robotics has led to the exploration of novel techniques to manufacture soft actuators, which provide distinct advantages for wearable assistive robotics. One subset of these soft pneumatic actuators is conventionally developed from silicone, fabrics, and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Each of these materials in isolation possesses limitations of low-stress capacity, low-design complexity, and high-input pressure requirements, respectively. Combining these materials can overcome some limitations and maintain their desirable properties. In this article, we explore one such composite design scheme using a combination of silicone polymer-based bladder and reconfigurable fabric skin made from an anisotropic extensible fabric. The silicone polymer bladder acts as the hermetic seal, while this skin acts as the constraint. Bending and torsional actuators were designed utilizing the anisotropy of these fabrics. The torsional actuator designs can achieve over 540° of twist, significantly larger than previously reported in the literature, owing to the lower mechanical impedance of the extensible fabrics. Actuators with 360° of bending were also fabricated using this method. In addition, the lack of TPU-backed or inextensible fabrics reduces the actuator's stiffness, leading to lower actuation pressures. Skin-based designs also confer the advantage of modularity, reconfigurability, and the ability to achieve complex motions by tuning the properties of the bladder and the skin. For applications with high-force requirements, such as wearable exoskeletons, we demonstrate the utility of multilayer design schemes. A multilayer bending actuator generated 190 N of force at 100 kPa and was shown to be a candidate for wearable assistive devices. In addition, torsional designs were shown to have utility in practical scenarios such as screwing on a bottle cap and turning knobs. Thus, we present a novel fabric-skin-based design concept that is highly versatile and customizable for various application requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajinkya Bhat
- Evolution Innovation Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Integrated Science and Engineering Program (ISEP), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shobhit Sandeep Jaipurkar
- Evolution Innovation Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Li Ting Low
- Evolution Innovation Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Raye Chen-Hua Yeow
- Evolution Innovation Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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5
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Wang Z, Zhang B, He Q, Chen H, Wang J, Yao Y, Zhou N, Cui W. Multimaterial Embedded 3D Printing of Composite Reinforced Soft Actuators. RESEARCH (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2023; 6:0122. [PMID: 37223483 PMCID: PMC10202188 DOI: 10.34133/research.0122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Soft pneumatic actuators (SPAs) have attracted enormous attention in the growing field of robotics. Among different SPAs, composite reinforced actuators (CRAs) are widely used because of their simple structure and high controllability. However, multistep molding, a time-consuming method, is still the predominant fabrication method. Here, we propose a multimaterial embedded printing method (ME3P) to fabricate CRAs. In comparison with other 3-dimensional printing methods, our method improves fabrication flexibility greatly. Via the design and fabrication of the reinforced composites' patterns and different geometries of the soft body, we demonstrate actuators with programmable responses (elongation, contraction, twisting, bending, and helical and omnidirectional bending). Finite element analysis is employed for the prediction of pneumatic responses and the inverse design of actuators based on specific actuation needs. Lastly, we use tube-crawling robots as a model system to demonstrate our ability to fabricate complex soft robots for practical applications. This work demonstrates the versatility of ME3P for the future manufacturing of CRA-based soft robots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment and Resources of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering,
Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Institute of Advanced Technology,
Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Boyu Zhang
- Institute of Advanced Technology,
Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, and Key Laboratory of 3D Micro/Nano Fabrication and Characterization of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering,
Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Qu He
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment and Resources of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering,
Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Institute of Advanced Technology,
Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment and Resources of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering,
Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Institute of Advanced Technology,
Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jizhe Wang
- Institute of Advanced Technology,
Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, and Key Laboratory of 3D Micro/Nano Fabrication and Characterization of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering,
Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yuan Yao
- Institute of Advanced Technology,
Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, and Key Laboratory of 3D Micro/Nano Fabrication and Characterization of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering,
Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Nanjia Zhou
- Institute of Advanced Technology,
Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, and Key Laboratory of 3D Micro/Nano Fabrication and Characterization of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering,
Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Weicheng Cui
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment and Resources of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering,
Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Institute of Advanced Technology,
Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
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6
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Friedrich LM, Gunther RT, Seppala JE. Suppression of Filament Defects in Embedded 3D Printing. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:32561-32578. [PMID: 35786823 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c08047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Embedded 3D printing enables the manufacture of soft, intricate structures. In the technique, a nozzle is embedded into a viscoelastic support bath and extrudes filaments or droplets. While embedded 3D printing expands the printable materials space to low-viscosity fluids, it also presents new challenges. Filament cross-sections can be tall and narrow, have sharp edges, and have rough surfaces. Filaments can also rupture or contract due to capillarity, harming print fidelity. Through digital image analysis of in situ videos of the printing process and images of filaments just after printing, we probe the effects of ink and support rheology, print speeds, and interfacial tension on defects in individual filaments. Using model materials, we determine that if both the ink and support are water-based, the local viscosity ratio near the nozzle controls the filament shape. If the ink is slightly more viscous than the support, a round, smooth filament is produced. If the ink is oil-based and the support is water-based, the capillary number, or the product of the ink speed and support viscosity divided by the interfacial tension, controls the filament shape. To suppress contraction and rupture, the capillary number should be high, even though this leads to trade-offs in roughness and roundness. Still, inks at nonzero interfacial tension can be advantageous, since they lead to much rounder and smoother filaments than inks at zero interfacial tension with equivalent viscosity ratios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne M Friedrich
- Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Ross T Gunther
- Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, North Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Jonathan E Seppala
- Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
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