Harvard University opens "soft robotics toolkit", an open source site that fully guides how to make "soft robots"

A site that shares all kinds of information on a soft robot "soft robot" made using soft materials on an open source "Soft robotics toolkitHarvard University and Dublin University jointly established.

Soft Robotics Toolkit
http://softroboticstoolkit.com/

What kind of robot technology using soft material is, what kind of idea of ​​"soft robotics toolkit" is what you can understand with a single shot by seeing the following movie.

Soft Robotics Toolkit Overview - YouTube


The soft robotics toolkit is a site that gathers information on "soft robot".


Soft robot design ......


Production and ... ...


It is made public so that all kinds of information such as setting method can be freely used.


A robot moving forward while moving with a sea urchin


Here is a robot that can grab curved objects like a human finger


This is how to monitor the stress applied to the soft material used for the robot. Soft robot is a robot technology attracting a great deal of attention nowadays incorporating the mechanism of biology into the technology of "hard" robot which has been developed for a long time.


Materials that can be easily bent or twisted can be made very cheaply and the structure is very simple.


Also, you can freely change the shape. This is a robot that can be freely bent by changing the air pressure inside by using an actuator.


Such freely bending components can serve to support the movement of fingers of handicapped people, for example, by setting them along a finger.


So soft robot makes it easy for people with hands to grab things easily.


This is an artificial heart made with soft robot technology


A mechanism to send out blood by expanding and contracting the surface.


Soft robotics toolkit works as a place where everyone developing soft robot can learn skills, order parts and suggest ideas.


The bending parts of soft robot are in a mold (formwork) outputted by a 3D printer ......


You can make your own by pouring and solidifying silicon.


All formwork data that 3D printing is also open to the public in open source.


Of course, the released data can be freely changed by the robot developer to their liking.


All information on the examples will also be shared.


There are movies to lecture in detail on the method of silicon molding. A soft robot can be made while watching a movie so even a beginner is fine.


Also, various parts used for making soft robots are also listed with photos ... ...


Since parts sales companies are also listed, you can also order parts by clicking the URL in the list.


It is a very difficult task for laypeople to predict the movement of soft robot.


So soft robotics toolkit provides software that can model the movement of robot parts.


Of course it is also possible to adjust the movement by changing the setting.


In order to actually move soft robot, it is necessary not only to process soft materials but also to understand robots' boards and circuits in terms of hardware.


Soft robotics toolkit has information on not only the main board, but also circuit design and parts combination.


An explanation of various parts is also included in the library.


In addition, information on the program code of the microcomputer board is also provided.


You can move the robot by using the released sample code, or you can improve the program yourself using the code as a starting point.


Combine circuits based on information on the site ......


By changing and improving as necessary, you can create soft robots that you want to make.


Soft robot engineering is a remarkable field of growth, soft robotics toolkit was born with the idea of ​​"to guide students, designers, researchers studying soft robot engineering, to help further development of technology".


Grab things with soft robot ......


It is considered to be able to support physical function, and future technology development is expected.