Soft robotics

Transferring theory to application

authored by

Alexander Verl, Alin Albu-Schäffer, Oliver Brock, Annika Raatz

Abstract

The research areas as well as the knowledge gained for the practical use of robots are growing and expanding beyond manufacturing and industrial automation, making inroads in sectors such as health care and terrain sensing, as well as general assistive systems working in close interaction with humans. In a situation like this, it is necessary for future robot systems to become less stiff and more specialized by taking inspiration from the mechanical compliance and versatility found in natural materials and organisms. At present, a new discipline is emerging in this area, called »Soft Robotics«. It particularly challenges the traditional thinking of engineers, as the confluence of technologies, ranging from new materials, sensors, actuators and production techniques to new design tools, will make it possible to create new systems whose structures are almost completely made of soft materials, which bring about entirely new functions and behaviors, similar in many ways to natural systems. These Proceedings focus on four main topics: • Soft Actuators and Control • Soft Interactions • Soft Robot Assistants: Potential and Challenges • Human-centered »Soft Robotics«.

Organisation(s)

Institute for Assembly Technology and Robotics

External Organisation(s)

Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA)
German Aerospace Center (DLR) (e.V.) Location Oberpfaffenhofen
Technische Universität Berlin

Type

Monograph

No. of pages

291

Publication date

2015

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Engineering(all), Computer Science(all)

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44506-8 (Access: Closed)