Soft Robotics
Compared to traditional robots, in which rigid links are connected by joints, soft robots are composed of compliant materials and structures. Soft robots are continuum, configurable, and adaptable with functionalities relying on high degrees of freedom shape morphing.
One of the key problems in active materials is the control of shape through actuation. A fascinating example of such control is the elephant trunk, a long, muscular, and extremely dexterous organ with multiple vital functions. The elephant trunk is an object of fascination for biologists, physicists, and children alike. Its versatility relies on the intricate interplay of multiple unique physical mechanisms and biological design principles. Here, we explore these principles using the theory of active filaments and build, theoretically, computationally, and experimentally, a minimal model that explains and accomplishes some of the spectacular features of the elephant trunk.
DetailsAmphibious origami millirobot utilizes spinning-enabled locomotion for navigation capability in various on-ground and in-water environments with controlled delivery of liquid medicine and targeted solid cargo transportation functions
DetailsInspired by the soft-bodied cephalopod biosystem, we engineer origami robotic arms to achieve multimodal deformations that integrate stretching, folding, omnidirectional bending, and twisting
DetailsEvolutionary algorithm-guided voxel-encoding direct ink writing printing allows magnetic actuation with predesigned curvature distribution for biomimetic robots
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