Abstract
The growing interest in soft robots comes from the new possibilities offered by these systems to cope with problems that cannot be addressed by robots built from rigid bodies. Many innovative solutions have been developed in recent years to design soft components and systems. They all demonstrate how soft robotics development is closely dependent on advanced manufacturing processes. This review aims at giving an insight on the current state of the art in soft robotics manufacturing. It first puts in light the elementary components that can be used to develop soft actuators, whether they use fluids, shape memory alloys, electro-active polymers or stimuli-responsive materials. Other types of elementary components, such as soft smart structures or soft-rigid hybrid systems, are then presented. The second part of this review deals with the manufacturing methods used to build complete soft structures. It includes molding, with possibly reinforcements and inclusions, additive manufacturing, thin-film manufacturing, shape deposition manufacturing, and bonding. The paper conclusions sums up the pros and cons of the presented techniques, and open to developing topics such as design methods for soft robotics and sensing technologies.
Highlights
The interest in soft robots has significantly increased in recent years
The scientific community is seeking to carry out a real technological breakthrough, justified by the need to evolve toward human friendly robotics
Some of these smart materials rely on thermal energy in order to change their state. This is the case with materials such as Shape Memory Alloys (SMA), for which transitions in the material crystalline structure under temperature changes allow the release of stored elastic energy
Summary
The interest in soft robots has significantly increased in recent years. This evolution is more than just a trend. Soft robots are systems built from materials with mechanical properties similar to those of living tissues, designed and manufactured in a very innovative way rather than artificially assembled by serial or parallel arrangements of elementary blocks, as it was the case for rigid-body robots. We propose an update on the technologies that have been used or developed during the last decade of expansion of soft robotics It will complement other recent review papers (Rus and Tolley, 2015; Laschi et al, 2016) that cover a broader spectrum. The conclusion will sum up the lessons learnt from this literature review and will open to various concerns that are closely related to the problem of manufacturing soft robots In particular it puts in light the recent research in this field, i.e., the interconnection between soft robots manufacturing and design. It provides the reader with somes references to start the exploration of the field of soft sensors
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
