“Nature uses soft material frequently and stiff material sparingly”-Vogel 1995 -Better bend than broken.

Soft robotics is revolutionizing the field by replacing rigid structures with soft, flexible materials. Compliant body (elastomers) makes a robot softer and more flexible.

Robotic grippers are an important component in the industry due to their ability to manipulate objects. Soft grippers are popular because of their considerable flexibility, which allows them to handle a wide range of objects, as compared to rigid grippers, which are designed for a particular item. Among their most outstanding characteristics is handling delicate goods without causing damage.

Soft robotics, which draws inspiration from natural locomotion systems, uses biomimicry to generate smooth and complicated motion that mirrors the suppleness and agility inherent in human, animal, and plant life. This method marks a considerable break from classical robotics’ linear and inflexible characteristics, ushering in a new era of complex and adaptable robotic systems.

Despite their obvious advantages, soft robots face obstacles inherent in their design. Controlling soft materials brings distinct challenges as compared to hard materials, and their vulnerability to damage raises operational considerations. Furthermore, the discipline of soft robotics is still emerging, demanding additional research and development to fully realize its promise.

Finally, including soft sensors and actuators allows robots to interact more effectively with their environment, bringing up new applications in domains such as healthcare, disaster response, and exploration. As the science of soft robotics advances, the potential for game-changing discoveries and applications in various sectors grows. However, significant obstacles have to be overcome before the full promise of soft robotics may be realized.

By,
Dr. Chiranjibi Champatiray
Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering, ACED