Design and Control Strategy of Soft Robot Based on Gas–Liquid Phase Transition Actuator

Abstract

In this paper, a soft robot driven by a gas–liquid phase transition actuator with a new structure is designed; The soft robot is driven by the pressure generated by electrically induced ethanol phase transition. The gas–liquid phase transition drive was found to be able to generate a larger driving force by using only low voltage. Compared with the gas drive of a traditional soft robot, gas–liquid phase transition-driven soft robot does not require a complex circuit system and a huge external energy supply air pump, making its overall structure more compact. At the same time, because of the new structure of the actuator on the soft robot, the soft robot has good gas tightness and less recovery time. A reinforcement depth learning control strategy is also added so that the soft robot with this actuator could better grip objects of different sizes and weights.