Modular Soft Robotics: Modular Units, Connection Mechanisms, and Applications

Advanced Intelligent Systems, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 2(6)

Опубликована: Фев. 18, 2020

A state‐of‐the‐art review of the modular soft robots (MSRs) is presented, with an outlook on challenges and future directions intelligent MSRs. In contrast to conventional composed rigid materials, made from materials offer remarkable advantages in achieving various adaptive locomotion, manipulating delicate objects, providing safe human–robot interaction adapting confined environments due their excellent compliance adaptability, which have potential be widely used numerous applications such as medical, exploration rescue devices, etc. Unlike fixed‐morphology robots, modularization a low‐cost rapid strategy that enables them adapt changing tasks by rearranging connectivity module units attain complex functionalities self‐assembly, self‐repair, or self‐replication. Although MSRs exhibit many advantages, they are still nascent stage plenty challenges. Herein, first fabrication, actuation, sensor, control introduced. Then, some main connection methods between summarized. Finally, applications, challenges, developing discussed.

Язык: Английский

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Electroactive material-based biosensors for detection and drug delivery

Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 170, С. 396 - 424

Опубликована: Сен. 26, 2020

Electroactive materials are employed at the interface of biology and electronics due to their advantageous intrinsic properties as soft organic electronics. We examine most recent literature electroactive material-based biosensors emerging role theranostic devices for delivery therapeutic agents. consider through lens smart drug systems that enable release cargo in response specific physiological external stimuli discuss way these mechanisms integrated into medical with examples latest advances. Studies harness features unique conductive polymers emphasized; lastly, we highlight new perspectives future research direction this technology challenges remain overcome.

Язык: Английский

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Electroactive Polymer-Based Composites for Artificial Muscle-like Actuators: A Review

Nanomaterials, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 12(13), С. 2272 - 2272

Опубликована: Июль 1, 2022

Unlike traditional actuators, such as piezoelectric ceramic or metallic polymer actuators are currently attracting more interest in biomedicine due to their unique properties, light weight, easy processing, biodegradability, fast response, large active strains, and good mechanical properties. They can be actuated under external stimuli, chemical (pH changes), electric, humidity, light, temperature, magnetic field. Electroactive polymers (EAPs), called ‘artificial muscles’, activated by an electric stimulus, fixed into a temporary shape. Restoring permanent shape after the release of electrical field, electroactive is considered most attractive actuator type because its high suitability for prosthetics soft robotics applications. However, robust control, modeling non-linear behavior, scalable fabrication critical challenges applying robotic systems real conditions. Researchers from around world investigate scientific engineering foundations especially principles work, purpose better control capability durability. The activation method realization required properties main restrictions on using latest highlights, operating principles, perspectives, materials (EAPs) dielectric EAPs, ferroelectric polymers, electrostrictive graft elastomers, liquid crystal ionic gels, polymer–metal composites reviewed this article.

Язык: Английский

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Design of an Electro-Stimulated Hydrogel Actuator System with Fast Flexible Folding Deformation under a Low Electric Field

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 13(13), С. 15633 - 15646

Опубликована: Март 25, 2021

Soft actuators have recently been widely studied due to their significant advantages including light weight, continuous deformability, high environment adaptability, and safe human–robot interactions. In this study, we designed electrically responsive poly(sodium 4-vinylbenzenesulfonate/2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate/acrylamide) (P(VBS/HEMA/AAm)) 4-vinylbenzenesulfonate/2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/acrylic acid) (P(VBS/HEMA/AAc)) hydrogels. A series of P(VBS/HEMA/AAm) P(VBS/HEMA/AAc) hydrogels were prepared by adjusting the monomer composition cross-linking density systemically analyze various factors affecting actuation under an electric field. All exhibited more than 65% gel fraction a equilibrium water content (EWC) 90%. The EWC gradually increased with decreasing cross-linker was also influenced composition. mechanical properties proportional density. Particularly, showed bending deformation even at low voltages below 10 V, can be modulated density, composition, applied voltage, ion strength electrolyte solution, geometrical parameters hydrogel. By controlling these factors, fast response 100° within minute. addition, did not show cytotoxicity in biocompatibility test 84% cell viability. These results indicate that field potential used wide range soft actuator applications.

Язык: Английский

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A Review of Recent Advances in Electrically Driven Polymer‐Based Flexible Actuators: Smart Materials, Structures, and Their Applications

Advanced Materials Technologies, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 7(11)

Опубликована: Июнь 19, 2022

Abstract Polymer‐based flexible actuators have recently attracted significant attention owing to their great potentials in soft robotics, wearables, haptics, and medical devices. In particular, electrically driven polymer‐based are considered as some of the most practical because they can be by a simple electrical power source. Over past decade, research on has greatly progressed, leading development various functional materials bioinspired structures. This article comprehensively reviews recent advances compares actuation performance based working principles, materials, Several strategies, including combining smart composite structures, which proposed overcome drawbacks actuators, also discussed. Finally, potential applications robotics summarized an outlook is presented.

Язык: Английский

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Multi-material Bio-inspired Soft Octopus Robot for Underwater Synchronous Swimming

Journal of Bionic Engineering, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 19(5), С. 1229 - 1241

Опубликована: Май 17, 2022

Язык: Английский

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Recent Advances on Underwater Soft Robots

Advanced Intelligent Systems, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 6(2)

Опубликована: Окт. 5, 2023

The ocean environment has enormous uncertainty due to the influence of complex waves and undercurrents. human beings are limited in their abilities detect utilize marine resources without powerful tools. Soft robots employ soft materials simplify mechanical structures rigid adapt morphology environment, making them suitable for performing some challenging tasks place manual labor. Due superior flexible deformable bodies, underwater have played significant roles numerous applications recent decades. Meanwhile, various technical challenges still need be tackled ensure reliability practical performance complicated environment. Nowadays, researchers developed robotic systems based on biomimetics other disciplines, aiming at comprehensive exploration appropriate utilization unexploited resources. This review presents advances aspects intelligent materials, fabrication, actuation, locomotion patterns, power storage, sensing, control, modeling; additionally, existing perspectives analyzed as well.

Язык: Английский

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A comprehensive review on advancements of elastomers for engineering applications

Advanced Industrial and Engineering Polymer Research, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 6(4), С. 451 - 464

Опубликована: Май 25, 2023

Researchers frequently turn to the adaptable material known as elastomers for various industrial products, including soft robotics, astronautics equipment, vehicles, tissue engineering, self-healing, and constructional materials. The typical lower modulus of popular is accompanied by weak resistance chemicals abrasion. Most commonly, rubbery polymers are called may be readily expanded lengths several times longer than they were originally. Although polymeric chains continue have some mobility, cross-linkers keep them from wandering indefinitely in relation one another. could become stiff, hard, more similar qualities a thermoset if there lot cross-links. Elastomers inherent apparent, thermal processing, mechanical properties, making additive manufacturing (AM) challenging. advent manufacturing, formerly three-dimensional (3D) printing, inspired academic researchers combine elastomeric properties with design freedom potential straightforward mass customization. employed adhesive industry because high adherence qualities. also utilized extensively daily applications due their excellent filler kinds other characteristics. This review article explores current advancements diverse elastomer types, 3D printing advances, functional elastomers, sectors context these developments. discussions include present-day difficulties perspective product development.

Язык: Английский

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Soft Robotics: A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis

Micromachines, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 14(2), С. 359 - 359

Опубликована: Янв. 31, 2023

In recent years, soft robotics has developed considerably, especially since the year 2018 when it became a hot field among current research topics. The attention that this receives from researchers and public is marked by substantial increase in both quantity quality of scientific publications. review, order to create relevant comprehensive picture quantitatively qualitatively, paper approaches two directions. first direction centered on bibliometric analysis focused period 2008–2022 with exact expression best characterizes field, which “Soft Robotics”, data were taken series multidisciplinary databases specialized journal. second focuses bibliographic references rigorously selected following clear methodology based inclusion exclusion criteria. After selection sources, 111 papers part final analysis, have been analyzed detail considering three different perspectives: one related design principle (biologically inspired robotics), functionality (closed/open-loop control), biomedical applications perspective.

Язык: Английский

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Soft Electromagnetic Artificial Muscles Using High‐Density Liquid‐Metal Solenoid Coils and Bistable Stretchable Magnetic Housings

Advanced Functional Materials, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 34(31)

Опубликована: Май 26, 2023

Abstract Soft electromagnetic artificial muscles (SEAMs) that use electric currents are reported as their power sources. The proposed actuator consists of fully soft components: microfluidic coils, stretchable magnets, ferromagnetic silicone, and housings. coils fabricated by directly printing room‐temperature liquid metal on a substrate, enabling the generation high‐density fields. Based design optimization through modeling simulation, actuators have characteristic bistability following relationships forces acting components. Depending configurations, generate contraction expansion motions well vibrations in bidirectional manner, enabled actuation. main advantages compliant structures, compact form factors, short response times, which not been observed existing polymer‐based muscles. Another advantage is self‐detection actuation states measuring inductance change coils. Last, modular packaged with coil magnets housing makes it possible to easily resize reconfigure robotic systems multiple modules for different applications. Examples applications demonstrated crawling robot, energy‐efficient grippers, multi‐degrees freedom (DOF) manipulator, high‐frequency swimming robot.

Язык: Английский

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