STM Journals Peer-reviewed research from Consortium e-Learning Network

Trends in Electrical Engineering

Challenges in the Field of Soft Robotics.

  1. Anirudh V
  2. Yash Verma

Abstract

One of the interesting topics in robotics research of recent years has been Soft Robotics. Theuse of unconventional materials in robotic systems is an idea that is revolutionizing roboticsand automation. Robotic systems are being designed so that they can mimic biologicalsystems. The detailed study of interactions between a physical system and the environment iscrucial in developing this technology. Novel robotic components are being designed using softmaterials but the complexity of the system is increased which is counterproductive since theaim of such studies is to reduce the overall complexity of the system. It has also opened doorsto robotic perception which enables the artificial systems to safely interact with humans andtheir surroundings. Recent research allows for soft systems with multiple modalities in sensingbut there are problems in using them with efficiency in practical scenarios. Here, the manychallenges in autonomous morphing, developing multimodal sensors, stretchable conductivematerials and electronic interfaces, modeling techniques, data interpretation, simulation andfabrication for soft robotic components are highlighted along with present solutions to few ofthe challenges.Keywords: Microelectromechanical systems, Multimodal sensors, Reconfigurable robots, SoftRobotics, Smart materials, Stretchable strain Sensors, Tactile sensing.
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