Search for: All records

Fruit flies or Drosophila larvae exhibit a diverse range of locomotion gaits enabled by their soft, segmented bodies and intricate muscle arrangements. Their bodies, composed of multiple segments, are synchronously activated to propel forward through a combination of muscle elongation and contraction. Soft robotic systems, inspired by such biological marvels, face significant challenges in replicating these complex behaviors due to the intricate interplay between muscle activation, soft body dynamics, and frictional forces. To address these challenges, we propose a reduced-order model that captures the essential features of larval crawling. By modeling segments as a combination of prismatic and revolute joints, we can simulate the nonlinear motion resulting from muscle activation and body deformation. Our model demonstrates the potential of this approach to accurately describe larval movement, as validated by comparisons with actual larval trajectories. This research offers valuable insights into the design and control of soft robots and provides a framework for biologists to investigate the complex mechanisms of neuromuscular coordination in larvae. 

Soft pneumatic actuators (SPAs) offer a promising alternative for biomedical applications requiring high sensitivity and precise manipulation due to their inherent compliance. 3D- printed multi-modal zig-zag SPAs exhibit potential in this area by achieving repeatable and precise shape changes due to their chambered design. However, achieving accurate position control remains a challenge. This work proposes a hybrid control strategy for multi-modal zig-zag SPAs that combines feed-forward and proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control to enhance positioning accuracy. A Pseudo Rigid Body (PRB) based inverse dynamic model is employed for the feed-forward component. The effectiveness of the controller is evaluated through extensive simulations and experiments. Results demonstrate that the hybrid control strategy achieves up to 29.5% and 31.6% improvement in accuracy compared to the PID and feed-forward controllers, respectively, within the operational bandwidth. 

The multimodal Zig-zag Soft Pneumatic Actuator (SPA) provides an effective design approach for achieving de- sired extensions and bending geometries under specific pressure conditions. The rigid body approximated model introduced in this study brings valuable insights into SPA dynamics by enabling faster simulations when compared to methods such as Finite Element Analysis (FEA). The model outlined in this paper forecasts static behavior by estimating the linear expansion of linear SPA and the bending angle of bending SPA. These two modes of motion can be combined to expand the degree of freedom. Depending on the configuration of the Strain Limiting Layer (SLL), the bending angle can be adjusted by controlling the actuator stiffness, a parameter that can be precisely characterized using the proposed actuator model. To address the hysteresis phenomena in linear expansion SPA, the Bouc-Wen hysteresis model is employed to model the actuator hysteresis responses at higher actuation rates. The validity of the proposed model is experimentally confirmed through the use of 3D-printed SPA prototypes that are designed for both extension and bending actuation.