Knowra Soft robotics Soft robotics Soft robotics studies and designs robots made partly or wholly from compliant materials. Their bodies deform during motion and interaction, unlike the rigid links typical of conventional robots.
Pneumatic artificial muscle : A contractile actuator that uses pressurized gas to produce motion. Pneumatic muscles bend or shorten soft robot limbs without rigid transmissions.
Soft matter : A class of materials, including polymers, gels, and foams, that deform readily under modest forces. Its materials supply the compliance that soft robotic bodies rely on.
Soft robotic gripper : A robot gripper whose compliant fingers deform around objects during grasping. Conformable fingers handle irregular or fragile objects with less precise alignment.
Rigid-body robot : A robot whose main structural links are designed to retain shape under operating forces. Rigid links simplify geometric modeling, while soft bodies deform continuously.
Fluidic elastomer actuator : A deformable actuator whose internal channels change shape when filled with pressurized fluid. Its patterned chambers turn pressure into controlled bending, twisting, or extension.
Continuum mechanics : The study of how continuous materials deform and respond to forces. It describes bodies whose motion cannot be reduced to a few rigid joints.
Octopus-inspired robotics : Robotic designs that borrow movement or manipulation strategies from octopuses. Octopus arms inspire flexible manipulators that bend without fixed joints.
Series elastic actuator : An actuator with an elastic element placed in series between its motor and load. It adds controlled compliance to an otherwise rigid mechanism, unlike a fully soft body.
Dielectric elastomer actuator : A stretchable electrical actuator that deforms when voltage creates forces across an elastomer film. It offers lightweight motion without pneumatic tubing, but requires high voltage.
Elastomer : A polymer that can undergo large reversible deformation under applied forces. Elastomers form many soft robot bodies, actuators, and flexible sensors.
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