Soft Robotic Hand and Arm System with Inflated Airbags

Overview

Currently, interactive robots are being utilized to provide a variety of jobs. From medical treatments, and therapeutic services, to educational assistance in homes, hospitals, and schools, robots are incorporated into numerous areas emphasizing the importance of their designs' intrinsic safety. Therefore, research has intensified on robotics with adaptable and compliant structures in dynamic situations. Specifically, protection measures can be passive, achieved by the effect of deformable materials, or active, by interpreting pressure sensor data to react to expected and unexpected encounters. This project focuses on coating a traditionally actuated "hard" robotic hand-and-arm system with soft airbags featured in soft robotics, easy-to-integrate sensor systems that respond to force changes, and a 3D-printed hand structure. The paper introduces a theoretical design that encompasses multiple iterations of finger-bending drives. Three distinct approaches are elucidated, employing servo motors, direct drives, and double-shaft reducer motors, each characterized by unique advantages and drawbacks. The paper also evaluates the merits of airbag pressure sensors in contrast to film pressure sensors. In conclusion, the envisioned soft and hard hybrid robotic hand aspires to strike a delicate equilibrium between safety, functionality, and affordability. This approach to design and implementation not only addresses the current challenges but also paves the way for future advancements in interactive prosthetic robotics. The implications extend across diverse applications, encompassing healthcare, education, and entertainment.

Competition history

• AJAS 2025 Category not listed

Related projects

Closest projects by meaning, across every fair and year in the corpus.

Browse more like this

• AJAS None projects
• Every AJAS 2025 project