SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACTUATING SOFT ROBOTIC ACTUATORS

Authors

Robert F. Shepherd, Brooktondale, NY
Adam Stokes, Watertown, MA
Stephen A. Morin, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Ludovico Cademartiri, Somerville, MA
Jacob Freake, Willimantic, CT
Rui Nunes, Somerville, MA
Xin Chen, Cambridge, MA
George M. Whitesides, Newton, MA

Date of this Version

2018

Citation

Patent.: US 9,945,397

Comments

Shepherd et al.

Appl. No.: 14/243,656

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a soft robot is provided. In one system , a robotic device includes a flexible body having a fluid chamber, where a portion of the flexible body includes an elastically extensible material and a portion of the flexible body is strain limiting relative to the elastically extensible material. The robotic device can further include a pressurizing inlet in fluid communication with the fluid chamber, and a pressurizing device in fluid communication with the pressurizing inlet, the pressurizing device including a reaction chamber configured to accommodate a gas producing chemical reaction for providing pressurized gas to the pressurizing inlet.