Soft Robotics: New Design of Soft-Cutting Hand Developed
Soft robotics is gaining attention for its ability to imitate human and animal movements. However, the high cost and complexity of the processes involved have hindered mass production. In a breakthrough development, researchers from the University of Coimbra in Portugal have now created a new design for a soft-cutting hand that is both simple and affordable. The findings of their work have been published in the journal Cyborg and Bionic Systems.
“The majority of robots are made of solid materials,” explains Pedro Neto, one of the researchers. “If you observe animals, we will see that their body consists not only of hard elements, such as skeletons, but also of soft elements, like muscles. For instance, some animals, like worms, are completely soft-bodied. Inspired by nature, we expect the next generation of robots to be designed using soft components.”
The newly developed soft-cutting hand can be utilized in further experiments and larger projects. “Before manufacturing a physical model, we applied the method of final elements to optimize the design. This allowed us to reduce the costs of creating prototypes,” says Neto. Ordinary 3D printers were also used, as the researchers printed some components using soft materials and tough casting forms.
The method of final elements (MKE) is a widely used technique for solving differential equations in engineering calculations and computer modeling.
This soft-cutting hand mechanism closely imitates a human limb, replicating its movements and capabilities. “The configuration includes five soft drivers, with each representing one finger, along with an exoskeleton for fingertip support,” emphasizes Neto.
The researchers found the ON-OFF controller particularly useful in their design. This device regulates the flexion of each finger, enabling the hand to grasp objects of various shapes, weights, and sizes — from a ball to a bottle. The initial tests and simulations yielded positive results.
Soft robotic systems are considered the safest option for coexistence with humans in any environment, both indoors and outdoors. In the event of a collision with an object, such robots pose no harm to anyone or anything.
In the future, this development could be utilized to test new artificial intelligence algorithms and other computing