Key Applications of Non-Rigid Robotics

Can a smaller robot than this be ever made⁉️ Untethered small-scale (from several millimetres down to a few micrometres in all dimensions) robots that can non-invasively access confined, enclosed spaces may enable applications in microfactories such as the construction of tissue scaffolds by robotic assembly, in bioengineering such as single-cell manipulation and biosensing, and in healthcare such as targeted drug delivery and minimally invasive surgery. Existing small-scale robots, however, have very limited mobility because they are unable to negotiate obstacles and changes in texture or material in unstructured environments. Of these small-scale robots, soft robots have greater potential to realize high mobility via multimodal locomotion, because such machines have higher degrees of freedom than their rigid counterparts. Here they demonstrate magneto-elastic soft millimetre-scale robots that can swim inside and on the surface of liquids, climb liquid menisci, roll and walk on solid surfaces, jump over obstacles, and crawl within narrow tunnels. These robots can transit reversibly between different liquid and solid terrains, as well as switch between locomotive modes. They can additionally execute pick-and-place and cargo-release tasks. Also presented are theoretical models to explain how the robots move. Like the large-scale robots that can be used to study locomotion, these soft small-scale robots could be used to study soft-bodied locomotion produced by small organisms. #research #papeR: https://lnkd.in/gSQV_bhK #authors: Wenqi Hu, Guo Zhan Lum, Massimo Mastrangeli, Metin Sitti 

In our most recent work published in Science Advances we introduce pneumatic coding blocks - analog equivalents of coding statements such as "If", "If...break", and "For". These blocks enable soft machines 🐙🤖 to interact with their environment and show programmable behavior, offering new pathways to design and integrate autonomy.   ✅ What we achieved:  - Developed a dictionary of pneumatic circuits for controlling the behavior of electronics-free soft robots. - Embedded sensing, actuation, and control into a single pneumatic platform. - Demonstrated a soft gripper capable of autonomously switching behaviors in response to environmental cues.   💡 Key insights: - Inspired by biological systems, we demonstrate how autonomous decision-making can be achieved by using mechanical and fluidic non-linearities. - The circuits comply with the Böhm–Jacopini theorem, enabling structured pneumatic programming that supports both sequential and parallel processes. - We move past the traditional binary logic for programming the behaviour of soft robots, without using electronics nor software!   🌍 Impact and applications: This research lays the groundwork for adaptive soft robotics, with potential applications including:  - Responsive robotic grippers - Locomotion of soft systems with minimal electronics-free on-board hardware - Wearable devices for rehabilitation/assistive technologies 📚 Interested in fluidic soft robotics, autonomous systems, or hardware-based programming strategies? Explore our open-access paper! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/egrhb8SR Sergio Picella, Katrien van Riet, Dynamics & Control (D&C) TU/e, AMOLF, Science Magazine, Mechanical Engineering at TU/e

Researchers at the University of Bristol have developed soft robots made from rice paper, the same kind used in Vietnamese spring rolls. The material offers a surprising combination of strength and flexibility similar to silicone, but with added benefits: it's biodegradable, non-toxic, and even edible. Lead researcher Christine Braganza says this discovery could democratize soft robotics, allowing people to experiment sustainably from home. Potential applications include agriculture and reforestation, especially for reseeding remote areas. The team is also exploring culinary robots that can move and potentially be consumed. This follows other recent advances in soft robotics, such as 3D-printed, air-powered robots that walk immediately after printing. The field holds promise across sectors like healthcare, nuclear decommissioning, and even space exploration, thanks to materials that adapt to complex environments and can self-heal. The rice paper study was published at the 2024 IEEE International Conference on Soft Robotics. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ea9D275w

🧲 Magnetic Slime Robots & Healthcare 🏥 In Medical technology, one of the most intriguing and promising innovations is the development of magnetic slime robots. These soft, flexible robots, composed of a magnetic slime material, are poised to revolutionize various aspects of healthcare, offering new possibilities in minimally invasive procedures, targeted drug delivery, and precise medical interventions. 💭 What Are Magnetic Slime Robots? Magnetic slime robots are made from a combination of magnetic particles and a polymer matrix, resulting in a unique material that is both flexible and controllable through external magnetic fields. This allows the slime to navigate complex environments and change shape as needed, making it highly adaptable for various medical applications. 🔑 Key Applications in Healthcare 1️⃣ Minimally Invasive Surgery 🎯 Precision and Flexibility: Magnetic slime robots can be precisely guided to target areas within the body, minimizing damage to surrounding tissues. Their flexibility allows them to navigate through tight and complex anatomical structures that traditional surgical instruments cannot reach. 🤕 Reduced Recovery Time: The minimally invasive nature of these robots means smaller incisions and less trauma for patients, leading to quicker recovery times and reduced risk of complications. 2️⃣ Targeted Drug Delivery 🚄 Enhanced Efficacy: By navigating to specific sites within the body, magnetic slime robots can deliver medications directly to affected areas, increasing the efficacy of the treatment while minimizing side effects. 💊 Controlled Release: These robots can be engineered to release drugs in a controlled manner, ensuring that the medication is delivered at the right time and in the right dosage. 3️⃣ Medical Diagnostics: 📸 Improved Imaging: Magnetic slime robots can carry imaging agents to specific parts of the body, enhancing the quality of medical imaging techniques such as MRI and CT scans. This can lead to more accurate diagnoses and better treatment planning. 👩🔬 Biopsy Procedures: These robots can be used to collect tissue samples from hard-to-reach areas, providing valuable diagnostic information with minimal invasiveness. #Healthcare #Innovation #Science #MedTech

Imagine a robot that moves like a living cell — transforming, splitting, merging, and navigating tight spaces effortlessly. A groundbreaking innovation by a joint research team from Seoul National University (Professors Ho-Young Kim and Jeong-Yun Sun) and Gachon University (Professor Keunhwan Park) has brought this vision closer to reality. They have developed a liquid robot that combines the extreme flexibility of liquids with the structural resilience of solids. This particle-armored liquid robot can: Pass through narrow gaps (think T-1000 from Terminator 2), Capture and transport foreign substances, Merge with other liquid robots, Move across both water surfaces and solid grounds, Be precisely controlled by ultrasound. Potential applications? Targeted drug delivery inside the human body, exploration in disaster zones, maintenance inside complex machinery, and much more. Their research, published in Science Advances, marks an exciting leap forward for soft robotics and biomedical engineering. Full article here: https://lnkd.in/eyf-7j4A #LiquidRobotics #SoftRobotics #Biomimicry #BiomedicalEngineering #MaterialsScience #FutureOfMedicine #RoboticsInnovation #ScienceAdvances #SeoulNationalUniversity #Robotics #UltrasoundTechnology #T1000 #NextGenRobotics #DrugDelivery #DisasterRecoveryTech #FollowMe #NowYouKnow