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Title: Design and Manufacturing of Tendon-Driven Soft Foam Robots
Summary A design and manufacturing method is described for creating a motor tendon–actuated soft foam robot. The method uses a castable, light, and easily compressible open-cell polyurethane foam, producing a structure capable of large (~70% strain) deformations while requiring low torques to operate ( < 0.2 N·m). The soft robot can change shape, by compressing and folding, allowing for complex locomotion with only two actuators. Achievable motions include forward locomotion at 13 mm/s (4.3% of body length per second), turning at 9◦/s, and end-over-end flipping. Hard components, such as motors, are loosely sutured into cavities after molding. This reduces unwanted stiffening of the soft body. This work is the first demonstration of a soft open-cell foam robot locomoting with motor tendon actuators. The manufacturing method is rapid (~30 min per mold), inexpensive (under $3 per robot for the structural foam), and flexible, and will allow a variety of soft foam robotic devices to be produced.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1830575
NSF-PAR ID:
10142913
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Robotica
Volume:
38
Issue:
1
ISSN:
0263-5747
Page Range / eLocation ID:
88 to 105
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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