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Inspired by the embodied intelligence observed in octopus arms, we introduce magnetically controlled origami robotic arms based on Kresling patterns for multimodal deformations, including stretching, folding, omnidirectional bending, and twisting. The highly integrated motion of the robotic arms is attributed to inherent features of the reconfigurable Kresling unit, whose controllable bistable deploying/folding and omnidirectional bending are achieved through precise magnetic actuation. We investigate single- and multiple-unit robotic systems, the latter exhibiting higher biomimetic resemblance to octopus’ arms. We start from the single Kresling unit to delineate the working mechanism of the magnetic actuation for deploying/folding and bending. The two-unit Kresling assembly demonstrates the basic integrated motion that combines omnidirectional bending with deploying. The four-unit Kresling assembly constitutes a robotic arm with a larger omnidirectional bending angle and stretchability. With the foundation of the basic integrated motion, scalability of Kresling assemblies is demonstrated through distributed magnetic actuation of double-digit number of units, which enables robotic arms with sophisticated motions, such as continuous stretching and contracting, reconfigurable bending, and multiaxis twisting. Such complex motions allow for functions mimicking octopus arms that grasp and manipulate objects. The Kresling robotic arm with noncontact actuation provides a distinctive mechanism for applications that require synergistic robotic motions for navigation, sensing, and interaction with objects in environments with limited or constrained access. Based on small-scale Kresling robotic arms, miniaturized medical devices, such as tubes and catheters, can be developed in conjunction with endoscopy, intubation, and catheterization procedures using functionalities of object manipulation and motion under remote control.
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Examine the Bending Stiffness of Generalized Kresling Modules for Robotic Manipulation
Via analytical modeling and experimental validation, this study examines the bending stiffness adaptation of bistable origami modules based on generalized Kresling pattern. These modules, which are the building blocks of an octopus-inspired robotic manipulator, can create a reconfigurable articulation via switching between their stable states. In this way, the manipulator can exhibit pseudo-linkage kinematics with lower control requirements and improved motion accuracy compared to completely soft manipulators. A key to achieving this reconfigurable articulation is that the underlying Kresling modules must show a sufficient difference in bending stiffness between their stable states. Therefore, this study aims to use both a nonlinear bar-hinge model and experimental testing to uncover the correlation between the module bending stiffness and the corresponding origami designs. The results show that the Kresling origami module can indeed exhibit a significant change in bending stiffness because of the reorientation of its triangular facets. That is, at one stable state, these facets align close to parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical-shaped module, so the module bending stiffness is relatively high and dominated by the facet stretching. However, at the other stable states, the triangular facets are orientated close to perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, so the bending stiffness is low and dominated by crease folding. The results of this study will provide the necessary design insights for constructing a fully functional manipulator with the desired articulation behavior.
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- PAR ID:
- 10224771
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- ASME 2020 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference
- Volume:
- 10
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- V010T10A077
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
-
Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Conference Paper:
- https://doi.org/10.1115/DETC2020-22187
