Soft Actuators

Soft Actuators
Author: Kinji Asaka
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 722
Release: 2019-08-28
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9811368503
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This book is the second edition of Soft Actuators, originally published in 2014, with 12 chapters added to the first edition. The subject of this new edition is current comprehensive research and development of soft actuators, covering interdisciplinary study of materials science, mechanics, electronics, robotics, and bioscience. The book includes contemporary research of actuators based on biomaterials for their potential in future artificial muscle technology. Readers will find detailed and useful information about materials, methods of synthesis, fabrication, and measurements to study soft actuators. Additionally, the topics of materials, modeling, and applications not only promote the further research and development of soft actuators, but bring benefits for utilization and industrialization. This volume makes generous use of color figures, diagrams, and photographs that provide easy-to-understand descriptions of the mechanisms, apparatus, and motions of soft actuators. Also, in this second edition the chapters on modeling, materials design, and device design have been given a wider scope and made easier to comprehend, which will be helpful in practical applications of soft actuators. Readers of this work can acquire the newest technology and information about basic science and practical applications of flexible, lightweight, and noiseless soft actuators, which differ from conventional mechanical engines and electric motors. This new edition of Soft Actuators will inspire readers with fresh ideas and encourage their research and development, thus opening up a new field of applications for the utilization and industrialization of soft actuators.

Soft Robotics in Rehabilitation

Soft Robotics in Rehabilitation
Author: Amir Jafari
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 282
Release: 2021-02-20
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0128185392
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Soft Robotics in Rehabilitation explores the specific branch of robotics dealing with developing robots from compliant and flexible materials. Unlike robots built from rigid materials, soft robots behave the way in which living organs move and adapt to their surroundings and allow for increased flexibility and adaptability for the user. This book is a comprehensive reference discussing the application of soft robotics for rehabilitation of upper and lower extremities separated by various limbs. The book examines various techniques applied in soft robotics, including the development of soft actuators, rigid actuators with soft behavior, intrinsically soft actuators, and soft sensors. This book is perfect for graduate students, researchers, and professional engineers in robotics, control, mechanical, and electrical engineering who are interested in soft robotics, artificial intelligence, rehabilitation therapy, and medical and rehabilitation device design and manufacturing. - Outlines the application of soft robotic techniques to design platforms that provide rehabilitation therapy for disabled persons to help improve their motor functions - Discusses the application of soft robotics for rehabilitation of upper and lower extremities separated by various limbs - Offers readers the ability to find soft robotics devices, methods, and results for any limb, and then compare the results with other options provided in the book

Bioinspired Sensing, Actuation, and Control in Underwater Soft Robotic Systems

Bioinspired Sensing, Actuation, and Control in Underwater Soft Robotic Systems
Author: Derek A. Paley
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 301
Release: 2020-11-06
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 303050476X
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This book includes representative research from the state‐of‐the‐art in the emerging field of soft robotics, with a special focus on bioinspired soft robotics for underwater applications. Topics include novel materials, sensors, actuators, and system design for distributed estimation and control of soft robotic appendages inspired by the octopus and seastar. It summarizes the latest findings in an emerging field of bioinspired soft robotics for the underwater domain, primarily drawing from (but not limited to) an ongoing research program in bioinspired autonomous systems sponsored by the Office of Naval Research. The program has stimulated cross‐disciplinary research in biology, material science, computational mechanics, and systems and control for the purpose of creating novel robotic appendages for maritime applications. The book collects recent results in this area.

Laser-induced Graphene

Laser-induced Graphene
Author: Ruquan Ye
Publisher:
Total Pages: 88
Release: 2020-11-30
Genre: Graphene
ISBN: 9789814877275
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LIG is a revolutionary technique that uses a common CO2 infrared laser scriber, like the one used in any machine shop, for the direct conversion of polymers into porous graphene under ambient conditions. This technique combines the preparation and patterning of 3D graphene in a single step, without the use of wet chemicals. The ease in the structural engineering and excellent mechanical properties of the 3D graphene obtained have made LIG a versatile technique for applications across many fields. This book compiles cutting-edge research on LIG by different research groups all over the world. It discusses the strategies that have been developed to synthesize and engineer graphene, including controlling its properties such as porosity, composition, and surface characteristics. The authors are pioneers in the discovery and development of LIG and the book will appeal to anyone involved in nanotechnology, chemistry, environmental sciences, and device development, especially those with an interest in the synthesis and applications of graphene-based materials.

Recent Trends in Product Design and Intelligent Manufacturing Systems

Recent Trends in Product Design and Intelligent Manufacturing Systems
Author: B.B.V.L. Deepak
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 968
Release: 2022-10-05
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 981194606X
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This book presents select proceedings of the 3rd Innovative Product Design and Intelligent Manufacturing System (IPDIMS 2020), held at National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela, 30–31 December 2021. This volume covers the latest research topics in design and manufacturing fields of engineering. Some of the themes covered include Industry 4.0, smart manufacturing, advanced robotics and CAD/CAM/CIM. This book will be useful for students, researchers and professionals in the disciplines of mechatronics, mechanical, manufacturing, production and industrial engineering, especially those working on improvements in manufacturing technologies and development of resilient infrastructure in industry.

Untethered Miniature Soft Robots

Untethered Miniature Soft Robots
Author: Li Zhang
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 261
Release: 2024-02-14
Genre:
ISBN: 3527351779
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Reference on achieving contactless manipulation of soft robots, detailing high level concepts and perspectives and technical skills of soft robots Untethered Miniature Soft Robots: Materials, Fabrications, and Applications introduces the emerging field of miniature soft robots and summarizes the recent rapid development in the field to date, describing different types of functional materials to build miniature soft robots, such as silicone elastomer, carbon-based materials, hydrogels, liquid crystal polymer, flexible ferrofluid, and liquid metal, and covering the material properties, fabrication strategies, and functionalities in soft robots together with their underlying mechanisms. The book discusses magnetically, thermally, optically, and chemically actuated soft robots in depth, explores the many specific applications of miniature soft robots in biomedical, environmental, and electrical fields and summarizes the development of miniature soft robots based on intelligent materials, actuation mechanisms, soft matter, fabrication strategies, actuation, and locomotion principles. In closing, the text summarizes the opportunities and challenges faced by miniature soft robots, providing expert insight into the possible futures of this field. Written by four highly qualified academics, Untethered Miniature Soft Robots covers sample topics such as: Soft elastomer-based robots with programmable magnetization profiles and untethered soft robots based on template-aiding Working mechanisms of carbon-based materials, covering light-induced expansion and shrinkage, and humidity-induced deformation Designing microscale building blocks, modular assembly of building blocks based on Denavit-Hartenberg (DH) matrix, and inverse and forward design of modular morphing systems Material designs of magnetic liquid crystal elastomers (LCE) systems, multiple-stimuli responsiveness of magnetic LCE systems, and adaptive locomotion of magnetic LCE-based robots Controllable deformation and motion behaviors, as well as applications of ferrofluids droplet robots (FDRs), including cargo capturing, object sorting, liquid pumping/mixing, and liquid skin. Providing highly detailed and up-to-date coverage of the topic, Untethered Miniature Soft Robots serves as an invaluable and highly comprehensive reference for researchers working in this promising field across a variety of disciplines, including materials scientists, mechanical and electronics engineers, polymer chemists, and biochemists.

Smart Materials in Additive Manufacturing, volume 2: 4D Printing Mechanics, Modeling, and Advanced Engineering Applications

Smart Materials in Additive Manufacturing, volume 2: 4D Printing Mechanics, Modeling, and Advanced Engineering Applications
Author: Mahdi Bodaghi
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 466
Release: 2022-06-25
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0323954316
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Smart Materials in Additive Manufacturing, Volume 2 covers the mechanics, modeling, and applications of the technology and the materials produced by it. It approaches the topic from an engineering design perspective with cutting-edge modeling techniques and real-world applications and case studies highlighted throughout. The book demonstrates 4D printing techniques for electro-induced shape memory polymers, pneumatic soft actuators, textiles, and more. Modeling techniques with ABAQUS and machine learning are outlined, as are manufacturing techniques for highly elastic skin, tunable RF and wireless structures and modules, and 4D printed structures with tunable mechanical properties. Closed-loop control of 4D printed hydrogel soft robots, hierarchical motion of 4D printed structures using the temperature memory effect, multimaterials 4D printing using a grasshopper plugin, shape reversible 4D printing, and variable stiffness 4D printing are each discussed as well. - Outlines cutting-edge techniques, structural design, modeling, simulation, and tools for application-based 4D printing - Details design, modeling, simulation, and manufacturing considerations for various fields - Includes case studies demonstrating real-world situations where the techniques and concepts discussed were successfully deployed - Applications covered include textiles, soft robotics, auxetics and metamaterials, micromachines, sensors, bioprinting, and wireless devices - Covers the mechanics, manufacturing processes and applications of 4D-printed smart materials and structures - Discusses applications in civil, mechanical, aerospace, polymer and biomedical engineering - Presents experimental, numerical and analytical studies in a simple and straightforward manner, providing tools that can be immediately implemented and adapted by readers to fit their work

The Science of Soft Robots

The Science of Soft Robots
Author: Koichi Suzumori
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 411
Release: 2023-10-14
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 9811951748
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The goal of this textbook is to equip readers with as structured knowledge of soft robotics as possible. Seeking to overcome the limitations of conventional robots by making them more flexible, gentle and adaptable, soft robotics has become one of the most active fields over the last decade. Soft robotics is also highly interdisciplinary, bringing together robotics, computer science, material science, biology, etc. After the introduction, the content is divided into three parts: Design of Soft Robots; Soft Materials; and Autonomous Soft Robots. Part I addresses soft mechanisms, biological mechanisms, and soft manipulation & locomotion. In Part II, the basics of polymer, biological materials, flexible & stretchable sensors, and soft actuators are discussed from a materials science standpoint. In turn, Part III focuses on modeling & control of continuum bodies, material intelligence, and information processing using soft body dynamics. In addition, the latest research results and cutting-edge research are highlighted throughout the book. Written by a team of researchers from highly diverse fields, the work offers a valuable textbook or technical guide for all students, engineers and researchers who are interested in soft robotics.

Microfluidics-Enabled Soft Manufacture

Microfluidics-Enabled Soft Manufacture
Author: Pingan Zhu
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 316
Release: 2022-03-11
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3030964620
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This book covers state-of-the-art development in microfluidics-enabled soft manufacturing (MESM), ranging from fundamentals to applications. The book addresses the long-standing challenge in the manufacture of simultaneously achieving both precise control over nano-/micro-scale structures and large-scale fabrication of materials for pragmatic use, with microfluidics-enabled soft manufacture to fill the gap between the widely-varied length scales involved. It offers a comprehensive insight into the microfluidic generation of fluid systems as liquid templates, such as droplets, bubbles, jets, emulsions, and foams, which are categorized into individual templates, one-dimensional arrays, and two-/three-dimensional assemblies for the modular fabrication of microparticles, microfibers, and porous materials, respectively. MESM enriches the compositional and structural diversity of engineered materials for well-tailored properties and functionalities, markedly broadening the application horizons across interdisciplinary fields, including engineering, environment, physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine. This book aims to systematize this emerging yet versatile and powerful technology, with the hope of aiding the realization of its full potential. Microfluidics-Enabled Soft Manufacture will be an invaluable reference for graduate students, postgraduates, researchers, and practitioners/professionals working in micro and nanofabrication, materials science, surface science, fluid dynamics, and engineering.

Soft and Stiffness-controllable Robotics Solutions for Minimally Invasive Surgery: The STIFF-FLOP Approach

Soft and Stiffness-controllable Robotics Solutions for Minimally Invasive Surgery: The STIFF-FLOP Approach
Author: Konstantinova, Jelizaveta
Publisher: River Publishers
Total Pages: 420
Release: 2018-06-07
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 8793519729
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Soft and Stiffness-controllable Robotics Solutions for Minimally Invasive Surgery presents the results of a research project, funded by European Commission, STIFF-FLOP: STIFFness controllable Flexible and Learn-able manipulator for surgical Operations. In Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS), tools go through narrow openings and manipulate soft organs that can move, deform, or change stiffness. There are limitations on modern laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgical systems due to restricted access through Trocar ports, lack of haptic feedback, and difficulties with rigid robot tools operating inside a confined space filled with organs. Also, many control algorithms suffer from stability problems in the presence of unexpected conditions. Yet biological “manipulators”, like the octopus arm can manipulate objects while controlling the stiffness of selected body parts and being inherently compliant when interacting with objects. STIFF-FLOP robot is an innovative soft robotic arm that can squeeze through a standard MIS, reconfigure itself and stiffen by hydrostatic actuation to perform compliant force control tasks while facing unexpected situations. Technical topics discussed in the book include: Soft actuatorsContinuum soft manipulatorsControl, kinematics and navigation of continuum manipulatorsOptical sensors for force, torque, and curvatureHaptic feedback and human interface for surgical systemsValidation of soft stiffness controllable robots