12 accepted papers
Wheels require extra space for steering. Omnidirectional wheels are ideal for confined spaces as they can move in all directions: forward/backward and left/right. Conventional omnidirectional wheels with passive rollers achieve this movement by combining multiple wheels. However, if even one wheel l
In the field of soft robotics, research on variable stiffness mechanisms that combine flexible structures for deformation with a solid structure for transmitting external forces is underway. This investigation is focused on a mechanism for achieving a high adjustable locking force with minimal actua
This letter introduces a balloon pin-array gripper combining shape adaptability to various objects, stable holding by multipoint contact, and isotropic grasping performance. This is particularly useful when the shape or position of the objects cannot be accurately determined because of sensor limita
A support structure for flexible displays such as OLED or flexible LEDs was developed using the flexible omnidirectional driving gear mechanism. It is a gear mechanism having two degrees of freedom on one surface. This flexible display mechanism is expected to be placed inside a car dashboard as a h…
Studies on soft robotics have explored mechanisms of switching the stiffness of a robot structure. The hybrid soft-rigid approach, which combines soft materials and high-rigidity structures, is the most commonly-used method for the variable stiffness mechanism. The positive-pressurization method, in
To address the setup and changeover time issues in high-mix, low-volume production systems, we developed an end-effector capable of uniformly scooping, holding, and transporting a wide variety of objects, and demonstrated this system with prototype. Our experiments showed that the prototype was succ…
Inflatable structures used in soft robotics applications have unique characteristics. In particular, the tip-extension structure, which extends the structure from its tip, can grow without creating friction with the environment. However, these inflatable structures need high pressure to maintain the
Machines such as robotic grippers use powerful actuators or gearboxes to exert large loads at the expense of energy consumption, volume, and mass. We propose a stepless force amplification mechanism that assists clamping by a pair of permanent magnets, in which the external control force required to
A two-degrees-of-freedom spherical parallel link mechanism (2-DOF SPM) was designed to ensure that it only has rotational degrees of freedom in two directions around a fixed center. In general, 2-DOF SPM includes passive rotating pairs, and at least two actuators are needed to change the end-effecto
Recently, soft robotics research has focused on mechanisms to control the stiffness of robot structures. There are several types of variable stiffness mechanisms that can change the stiffness of such structures by altering friction force. Among these, the negative-pressurization method applies negat
Electromagnetic (EM) brakes are widely used but consume electricity continuously to maintain their activated state. In this letter, for efficient braking and idling of robots and vehicles, we proposed a concept of a brake mechanism using a permanent magnet for the amplification of the pressing force
We propose a novel toroidal origami monotrack capable of smooth-skin driving and bending for closed-skin-drive robots. Monotracks are a promising solution for achieving high mobility in unstructured environments. Toroidal-drive mechanisms enable whole skin drive; however, conventional methods experi…