Collaborate Disseminate
Folks blessed with a soft touch seem to have no problem getting to grips with delicate objects, but it can be a tough ask for robots. Researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have taken a strength-in-… Continue reading Robot tackles the knotty problem of grasping delicate objects
Inflatable actuators that change shape based on injected pressure can be strong, but their big limitation is that they always deform in the same way. But by taking structural inspiration …read more Continue reading Complex Movements From Simple Inflatables, Thanks to Physics
There is a lot for us still to learn about the dangers microplastics pose to the environment and the health of living organisms, but one thing is clear, their presence is widespread and only becoming more-so. Scientists have come up with a novel cleanu… Continue reading Light-activated fish-shaped robot soaks up microplastics from the water
The innovative use of magnetic fields has opened up some exciting possibilities in cancer treatment, with scientists demonstrating how they can be used to steer tumor-killing particles into cancer tissue or wires into veins in search of blood cancers, … Continue reading Tentacle-like robot weaves through the lungs to tackle cancer
Researchers at Harvard and Emory University have created a biohybrid fish out of human heart muscle cells that can swim autonomously for months at a time as the cells beat. The project is a quirky sidestep on the way to eventually growing new functioni… Continue reading Biohybrid fish powered by beating human heart cells swims for 100 days
Most robots are designed for a specific job, and aren’t very adaptable. But engineers at Virginia Tech have now developed a soft robot that can morph into a range of shapes, such as driving, flying or swimming robots, thanks to a rubber skin full of a … Continue reading Mighty morphing melting metal robot switches from driving to flying drone
Most robotic grippers work by applying pressure to an object from either side – it’s an approach which could damage delicate items. A new gripper gets around that problem, however, thanks to an ancient Japanese art form.Continue ReadingCategory: Good T… Continue reading Kirigami-inspired gripper lifts fragile objects without breaking them
In order for it to be truly soft, a soft-bodied robot can’t contain any hard, rigid components. That’s why we’ve already seen soft batteries, circuits and actuators. Now, a squishy, stretchable thermometer has joined that list.Continue ReadingCategory:… Continue reading Stretchable, flexible thermometer could find use in soft robotics
We could all use a hug once in a while. Most people would probably say the shared warmth is nice, and the squishiness of another living, breathing meatbag is pretty …read more Continue reading Can Robots Give Good Hugs?
If your jealousy for Festo robots is festering, fret not! [mikey77] has shown us that, even without giant piggy banks, we can still construct some fantastic soft robotics projects with …read more Continue reading Squishy Robot Hardware Does Well Under Pressure