13 accepted papers
Soft robots,compared to rigid robots,possess inherent advantages,including higher degrees of freedom, compliance,and enhanced safety,which have contributed to their increasing application across various fields. Among these benefits, adaptability is particularly noteworthy. In this paper, adaptabilit…
This paper presents the design, development, and testing of a soft 3D-printed endoskeleton for arbitrary cable routing in tendon-driven soft actuators. The endoskeleton is embedded in a silicone body, and it is fixed to the mold prior to the casting process. It enables tendons to be placed through p
This paper presents the design, development, and testing of a soft 3D-printed endoskeleton for arbitrary cable routing in tendon-driven soft actuators. The endoskeleton is embedded in a silicone body, and it is fixed to the mold prior to the casting process. It enables tendons to be placed through p…
Proprioceptive sensing plays a crucial role in robotics, enabling closed-loop control approaches that are essential for autonomous applications. In Soft Robotics, the development and integration of sensors is even more challenging due to the compliant nature of soft bodies. Moreover, underwater envi
Plant cells expand and elongate. Their cumulative actuation defines organ morphing. Inspired by this modular transformability, this study proposes a modular concept for growing robots that will be able to grow by adding at their tip Transformable Modules (TMs). We provide a two-module implementation…
This paper proposes a methodology to investigate soil penetration requirements to extract specifications for designing robotic soil excavators and explorers. To this purpose, a three-dimensional (3-D) numerical model based on the Discrete Element Method (DEM) is proposed to simulate an intruder pene
Soft (bio)hybrid robotics aims at interfacing living beings with artificial technology. It was recently demonstrated that plant leaves coupled with artificial leaves of selected materials and tailored mechanics can convert wind-driven leaf fluttering into electricity. Here, we significantly advance
Some climbing plants use tendrils as efficient strategies to anchor and support their weights while they move in unstructured environments. In this letter, we mimic the essential functions of tendrils that wrap around the support in a soft state by a spiral winding (coiling) and then lignify or stif
The ability to move on an unstructured terrain and in confined spaces greatly increases the number of tasks terrestrial robots can carry out. To achieve this goal, robots should be aware of the different terrains on which they are moving. Here we present a soft sensorized foot module that can be use
Nowadays, robots can navigate complex and dynamic environments such as air, water, and different terrain. However, moving into the underground, and especially into the soil, is still a challenge. Soil is a complex environment, and its exploration and monitoring is a crucial aspect in different engin…
This paper presents a new material deposition strategy for developing a growing robot capable of building its own body. The growing robot is inspired by plant growth and is based on a 3D printer-like mechanism. The plotting of a filament near the tip allows the forward movement of the robot and resu…
This letter reports the concept and design of the active-braid, a novel bioinspired continuum manipulator with the ability to contract, extend, and bend in three-dimensional space with varying stiffness. The manipulator utilizes a flexible crossed-link helical array structure as its main supporting
In this paper, we present a study on peculiar plant root movements, named circumnutations, adopted by plants as an efficient strategy to penetrate the soil and implemented in robotic roots to improve their performance in exploration tasks. The robotic root is able to bend and interact with soil owin