Bioinspiration and Biomimetic Art in Robotic Grippers

Editorial for the Special Issue on Soft Actuators: Design, Fabrication and Applications

The topic of soft robotics combines robotics, biology, and material sciences to develop the next generation of robots that are better suited to complex uncertain natural environments and human-centered operations with strict safety requirements [...].

Design of an actuator with bionic claw hook-suction cup hybrid structure for soft robot

To improve the adaptability of soft robots to the environment and achieve reliable attachment on various surfaces such as smooth and rough, this study draws inspiration from the collaborative attachment strategy of insects, cats, and other biological claw hooks and foot pads, and designs an actuator with a bionic claw hook-suction cup hybrid structure. The rigid biomimetic pop-up claw hook linkage mechanism is combined with a flexible suction cup of a 'foot pad' to achieve a synergistic adhesion effect between claw hook locking and suction cup adhesion through the deformation control of a soft pneumatic actuator. A pop-up claw hook linkage mechanism based on the principle of cat claw movement was designed, and the attachment mechanism of the biological claw hooks and footpads was analysed. An artificial muscle-spring-reinforced flexible pneumatic actuator (SRFPA) was developed and a kinematic model of the SRFPA was established and analysed using Abaqus. Finally, a prototype of the hybrid actuator was fabricated. The kinematic and mechanical performances of the SRFPA and entire actuator were characterised, and the attachment performance of the hybrid actuator to smooth and rough surfaces was tested. The results indicate that the proposed biomimetic claw hook-suction cup hybrid structure actuator is effective for various types of surface adhesion, object grasping, and robot walking. This study provides new insights for the design of highly adaptable robots and biomimetic attachment devices.

Soft octopus-inspired suction cups using dielectric elastomer actuators with sensing capabilities

Bioinspired and biomimetic soft grippers are rapidly growing fields. They represent an advancement in soft robotics as they emulate the adaptability and flexibility of biological end effectors. A prominent example of a gripping mechanism found in nature is the octopus tentacle, enabling the animal to attach to rough and irregular surfaces. Inspired by the structure and morphology of the tentacles, this study introduces a novel design, fabrication, and characterization method of dielectric elastomer suction cups. To grasp objects, the developed suction cups perform out-of-plane deflections as the suction mechanism. Their attachment mechanism resembles that of their biological counterparts, as they do not require a pre-stretch over a rigid frame or any external hydraulic or pneumatic support to form and hold the dome structure of the suction cups. The realized artificial suction cups demonstrate the capability of generating a negative pressure up to 1.3 kPa in air and grasping and lifting objects with a maximum 58 g weight under an actuation voltage of 6 kV. They also have sensing capabilities to determine whether the grasping was successful without the need of lifting the objects.

Interacting with Obstacles Using a Bio-Inspired, Flexible, Underactuated Multilink Manipulator

With the increasing demand for robotic manipulators to operate in complex environments, it is important to develop designs that work in obstacle-rich environments and can navigate around obstacles. This paper aims to demonstrate the capabilities of a bio-inspired, underactuated multilink manipulator in environments with fixed and/or movable obstacles. To simplify the system design, a single rotational actuator is used at the base of the manipulator. We present a modeling method for flexible, multilink underactuated manipulators, including their interaction with obstacles. We also demonstrate how to plan a trajectory for the manipulator in environments with fixed obstacles. The robustness of the manipulator is examined by analyzing the effects of uncertainty in its initial state and the position of obstacles. Next, we demonstrate the performance of the manipulator in environments with movable obstacles and show the advantages of controlling the obstacles' radii and positions. Lastly, we showcase the process of picking up an object in workspaces with obstacles. All the findings are supported by simulations as well as hardware experiments.

Soft-stable interface in grasping multiple objects by wiring-tension

Efficiently manipulating objects in a group state poses an emerging challenge for soft robot hands. Overcoming this problem necessitates the development of hands with highly stable structures to bear heavy loads and highly compliant designs to universally adapt to various object geometries. This study introduces a novel platform for the development of robot hands aimed at manipulating multiple objects in each trial. In this setup, the objects come into soft contact with an elastic wire affixed to the finger skeletons. This combination results in a harmonious hybrid finger, inheriting both the soft, flexible properties of the wire and the robust stability provided by the finger skeleton. To facilitate this approach, a theoretical model was proposed to estimate the kinematics of manipulating multiple objects using wiring-based fingers. Based on this model, we designed a hybrid gripper comprising two wiring-based fingers for conducting experimental evaluations in manipulating four groups of samples: a pair of bevel gears, a pair of bevel gears plus a pneumatic connector, a pair of glue bottles, and a pair of silicon bottles. The experimental results demonstrated that our proposed gripper reached good performance with high success rates in durability tests conducted at various lifting velocities and high adaption with objects in soft-friendly ways. These findings hold promise for efficiently manipulating multiple complex objects in each trial without the need for complex control systems.

Simulation Analysis of a Sandwich Cantilever Ultrasonic Motor for a Dexterous Prosthetic Hand

Currently, the driving motor used in a dexterous prosthetic hand is limited by the driving principle, and it has the characteristics of a complex structure, slow response, low positioning accuracy, and excessive volume. There are special requirements in terms of quality and quality, and traditional motor drives have greatly affected the progress of prosthetic robots. A motor (ultrasonic motor) has been developed over more than 30 years. It has the advantages of a small size, small mass, simple structure, accurate positioning, high power density, and fast response time, which is enough to improve the driving mechanism performance of the prosthetic hand with a connecting rod. In this paper, the structural characteristics of the prosthetic hand will be analyzed, and the modal analysis, harmonic response analysis, and transient analysis simulation of the longitudinal vibration linear motor stator used in the prosthetic hand with a connecting rod will be carried out in order to provide preliminary preparation for the feasible design and manufacture of the size of the ultrasonic driver structure used for the prosthetic hand with a connecting rod.