Design, fabrication and control of soft robots

Daniela Rus, Michael T. Tolley
2015 Nature  
Conventionally, engineers have employed rigid materials to fabricate precise, predictable robotic systems, which are easily modeled as rigid members connected at discrete joints. Natural systems, however, often match or exceed the performance of robotic systems with deformable bodies. Cephalopods, for example, achieve amazing feats of manipulation and locomotion without a skeleton; even vertebrates like humans achieve dynamic gaits by storing elastic energy in their compliant bones and soft
more » ... ues. Inspired by nature, engineers have begun to explore the design and control of soft-bodied robots composed of compliant materials. This Review discusses recent developments in the emerging field of soft robotics.
doi:10.1038/nature14543 pmid:26017446 fatcat:xwwpejmh4bb7njdsv4a43wpbsq