Soft Actuators
Soft Actuators

Author: Kinji Asaka

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2019-08-28

Total Pages: 740

ISBN-13: 9811368503

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This book is the second edition of Soft Actuators, originally published in 2014, with 12 chapters added to the first edition. The subject of this new edition is current comprehensive research and development of soft actuators, covering interdisciplinary study of materials science, mechanics, electronics, robotics, and bioscience. The book includes contemporary research of actuators based on biomaterials for their potential in future artificial muscle technology. Readers will find detailed and useful information about materials, methods of synthesis, fabrication, and measurements to study soft actuators. Additionally, the topics of materials, modeling, and applications not only promote the further research and development of soft actuators, but bring benefits for utilization and industrialization. This volume makes generous use of color figures, diagrams, and photographs that provide easy-to-understand descriptions of the mechanisms, apparatus, and motions of soft actuators. Also, in this second edition the chapters on modeling, materials design, and device design have been given a wider scope and made easier to comprehend, which will be helpful in practical applications of soft actuators. Readers of this work can acquire the newest technology and information about basic science and practical applications of flexible, lightweight, and noiseless soft actuators, which differ from conventional mechanical engines and electric motors. This new edition of Soft Actuators will inspire readers with fresh ideas and encourage their research and development, thus opening up a new field of applications for the utilization and industrialization of soft actuators.

Soft Robotics in Rehabilitation
Soft Robotics in Rehabilitation

Author: Amir Jafari

Publisher: Academic Press

Published: 2021-02-20

Total Pages: 280

ISBN-13: 0128185392

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Soft Robotics in Rehabilitation explores the specific branch of robotics dealing with developing robots from compliant and flexible materials. Unlike robots built from rigid materials, soft robots behave the way in which living organs move and adapt to their surroundings and allow for increased flexibility and adaptability for the user. This book is a comprehensive reference discussing the application of soft robotics for rehabilitation of upper and lower extremities separated by various limbs. The book examines various techniques applied in soft robotics, including the development of soft actuators, rigid actuators with soft behavior, intrinsically soft actuators, and soft sensors. This book is perfect for graduate students, researchers, and professional engineers in robotics, control, mechanical, and electrical engineering who are interested in soft robotics, artificial intelligence, rehabilitation therapy, and medical and rehabilitation device design and manufacturing. Outlines the application of soft robotic techniques to design platforms that provide rehabilitation therapy for disabled persons to help improve their motor functions Discusses the application of soft robotics for rehabilitation of upper and lower extremities separated by various limbs Offers readers the ability to find soft robotics devices, methods, and results for any limb, and then compare the results with other options provided in the book

Soft Actuators and Robotics
Soft Actuators and Robotics

Author: Hamed Rahimi Nohooji

Publisher: Mdpi AG

Published: 2024-01-17

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9783036598086

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The Special Issue "Soft Actuators and Robotics" presents a curated collection of innovative research papers that delve into the design, fabrication, and application of soft actuators and soft robotics. This issue captures the interdisciplinary nature of soft robotics, blending principles from engineering, materials science, and computer science to advance the development of robots that are flexible, adaptable, and capable of safe interactions with humans and delicate environments. Each contribution in this issue sheds light on the latest advancements in actuator technology, offering insights into compliant mechanisms, embedded sensors, and artificial muscles. The featured research highlights the progress in programmable soft materials, modeling and simulation of sensorized actuators, and introduces novel approaches to control systems that pave the way for more intuitive and responsive robots. The scope of this issue extends beyond theoretical research, with practical demonstrations of soft actuators in action. From soft grippers that gently handle fragile objects to wearable devices that seamlessly interact with human users, the applications explored here are as diverse as they are groundbreaking. In essence, this Special Issue serves as a testament to the transformative potential of soft robotics. It is a resource for researchers, practitioners, and enthusiasts alike, reflecting the current trends and future directions in soft actuator design and robotics.

Soft Robots for Healthcare Applications
Soft Robots for Healthcare Applications

Author: Shane Xie

Publisher: IET

Published: 2017-07-20

Total Pages: 238

ISBN-13: 1785613111

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Robot-assisted healthcare offers benefits for repetitive, intensive and task specific training compared to traditional manual manipulation performed by physiotherapists. However, a majority of existing rehabilitation devices use rigid actuators such as electric motors or hydraulic cylinders which cannot guarantee the safety of patients. This book provides biomedical engineering and robotics professionals and students with the fundamental mechatronic engineering knowledge to analyze and design new soft robotic devices. The authors present a systematic investigation of the design, modelling, methods, and control methods, implementation and novel applications of mechatronics to provide better clinical rehabilitation services and new insights into emerging technologies utilized in soft robots for healthcare.

Bioinspired Sensing, Actuation, and Control in Underwater Soft Robotic Systems
Bioinspired Sensing, Actuation, and Control in Underwater Soft Robotic Systems

Author: Derek A. Paley

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2020-11-06

Total Pages: 301

ISBN-13: 303050476X

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This book includes representative research from the state‐of‐the‐art in the emerging field of soft robotics, with a special focus on bioinspired soft robotics for underwater applications. Topics include novel materials, sensors, actuators, and system design for distributed estimation and control of soft robotic appendages inspired by the octopus and seastar. It summarizes the latest findings in an emerging field of bioinspired soft robotics for the underwater domain, primarily drawing from (but not limited to) an ongoing research program in bioinspired autonomous systems sponsored by the Office of Naval Research. The program has stimulated cross‐disciplinary research in biology, material science, computational mechanics, and systems and control for the purpose of creating novel robotic appendages for maritime applications. The book collects recent results in this area.

Soft Robotics
Soft Robotics

Author: Alexander Verl

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2015-03-13

Total Pages: 293

ISBN-13: 3662445069

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The research areas as well as the knowledge gained for the practical use of robots are growing and expanding beyond manufacturing and industrial automation, making inroads in sectors such as health care and terrain sensing, as well as general assistive systems working in close interaction with humans. In a situation like this, it is necessary for future robot systems to become less stiff and more specialized by taking inspiration from the mechanical compliance and versatility found in natural materials and organisms. At present, a new discipline is emerging in this area, called »Soft Robotics«. It particularly challenges the traditional thinking of engineers, as the confluence of technologies, ranging from new materials, sensors, actuators and production techniques to new design tools, will make it possible to create new systems whose structures are almost completely made of soft materials, which bring about entirely new functions and behaviors, similar in many ways to natural systems. These Proceedings focus on four main topics: • Soft Actuators and Control • Soft Interactions • Soft Robot Assistants: Potential and Challenges • Human-centered »Soft Robotics«.

Mechanically Responsive Materials for Soft Robotics
Mechanically Responsive Materials for Soft Robotics

Author: Hideko Koshima

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2020-02-18

Total Pages: 442

ISBN-13: 3527346201

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Offers a comprehensive review of the research and development of mechanically responsive materials and their applications in soft robots Mechanically Responsive Materials for Soft Robotics offers an authoritative guide to the current state of mechanically responsive materials for the development of soft robotics. With contributions from an international panel of experts, the book examines existing mechanically responsive materials such as crystals, polymers, gels, and composites that are stimulated by light and heat. The book also explores the application of mechanical materials to soft robotics. The authors describe the many excellent mechanical crystals developed in recent years that show the ability to bend, twist, rotate, jump, self-heal, and shape memory. Mechanical polymer materials are described for evolution into artificial muscles, photomobile materials, bioinspired soft actuators, inorganic-organic hybrid materials, multi-responsive composite materials, and strain sensor materials. The application of mechanical materials to soft robots is just the beginning. This book reviews the many challenging and versatile applications, such as soft microrobots made from photoresponsive elastomers, four-dimensional printing for assembling soft robots, self-growing of soft robots like plants, and biohybrid robots using muscle tissue. This important book: -Explores recent developments in the use of soft smart materials in robotic systems -Covers the full scope of mechanically responsive materials: polymers, crystals, gels, and nanocomposites -Deals with an interdisciplinary topic of advanced smart materials research -Contains extensive descriptions of current and future applications in soft robotics Written for materials scientists, polymer chemists, photochemists, physical chemists, solid state chemists, inorganic chemists, and robotics engineers, Mechanically Responsive Materials for Soft Robotics offers a comprehensive and timely review of the most recent research on mechanically responsive materials and the manufacture of soft robotics.

The Science of Soft Robots
The Science of Soft Robots

Author: Koichi Suzumori

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2023-10-14

Total Pages: 411

ISBN-13: 9811951748

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The goal of this textbook is to equip readers with as structured knowledge of soft robotics as possible. Seeking to overcome the limitations of conventional robots by making them more flexible, gentle and adaptable, soft robotics has become one of the most active fields over the last decade. Soft robotics is also highly interdisciplinary, bringing together robotics, computer science, material science, biology, etc. After the introduction, the content is divided into three parts: Design of Soft Robots; Soft Materials; and Autonomous Soft Robots. Part I addresses soft mechanisms, biological mechanisms, and soft manipulation & locomotion. In Part II, the basics of polymer, biological materials, flexible & stretchable sensors, and soft actuators are discussed from a materials science standpoint. In turn, Part III focuses on modeling & control of continuum bodies, material intelligence, and information processing using soft body dynamics. In addition, the latest research results and cutting-edge research are highlighted throughout the book. Written by a team of researchers from highly diverse fields, the work offers a valuable textbook or technical guide for all students, engineers and researchers who are interested in soft robotics.

Soft-Material Robotics
Soft-Material Robotics

Author: Liyu Wang

Publisher:

Published: 2017-04-12

Total Pages: 86

ISBN-13: 9781680832648

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Introduces the fundamentals aspects of the topic from history, modelling, control, and system integration. The last decade has witnessed an increasing interest in the more active use of soft materials in robotic systems. Having a soft body like the ones in biological systems can potentially provide a robot with superior capabilities.

Large Deformable Soft Actuators Using Dielectric Elastomer and Origami Inspired Structures
Large Deformable Soft Actuators Using Dielectric Elastomer and Origami Inspired Structures

Author: JangHo Park

Publisher:

Published: 2019

Total Pages: 254

ISBN-13:

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"There have been significant developments in the field of robotics. Significant development consists of new configurations, control mechanisms, and actuators based upon its applications. Despite significant improvements in modern robotics, the biologically inspired robots has taken the center stage. Inspired by nature, biologically inspired robots are called ‘soft robots’. Within these robots lies a secret ingredient: the actuator. Soft robotic development has been driven by the idea of developing actuators that are like human muscle and are known as ‘artificial muscle’. Among different materials suitable for the development of artificial muscle, the dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) is capable of large deformation by applying an electric field. Theoretical formulation for DEA was performed based upon the constitutive hyperelastic models and was validated by using finite element method (FEM) using ABAQUS. For FEM, multistep analysis was performed to apply pre-stretch to the membrane before applying actuation voltage. Based on the validation of DEA, different configurations of DEA were investigated. Helical dielectric elastomer actuator and origami dielectric elastomer actuator were investigated using theoretical modeling. Comparisons were made with FEM to validate the model. This study focus on the theoretical and FEM analysis of strain within the different configuration of DEA and how the actuation strain of the dielectric elastomer can be translated into contraction and/or bending of the actuator."--Abstract.