Soft Robotic Actuators for Adaptive Gripping and Positioning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional hard robotic actuators are limited in handling objects of varying sizes and shapes, particularly in environments where uncertainty and variability in weight, size, and shape exist, leading to inefficiencies in manufacturing, packaging, and food preparation tasks.

Innovation Solution

The use of soft robotic actuators, formed from elastomeric materials, which can inflate or deflate to adapt to objects, providing a compliant grip and allowing for flexible manipulation and positioning of objects through inflation and deflation control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If hard robotic actuators are used for gripping and manipulating objects, then structural strength and stability are improved, but adaptability to objects of varying sizes and shapes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidadaptability to objects

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs soft robotic actuators constructed from flexible elastomeric materials that can conform to objects of varying sizes and shapes. These soft actuators replace traditional hard robotic grippers, enabling adaptive manipulation while maintaining sufficient structural integrity through the elastomeric material properties and actuator design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes inflation and deflation of soft actuators to dynamically change their physical parameters (volume, shape, stiffness). By controlling the inflation state, the actuators can adapt their compliance and gripping force to match different object characteristics, resolving the contradiction between maintaining strength and achieving adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If hard fixturing devices are used for positioning objects, then positioning stability is improved, but compliance with delicate objects deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning stabilityVSAvoiddamage to delicate objects

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces hard fixturing devices with soft robotic actuators made of compliant elastomeric materials. These soft actuators can provide stable positioning while naturally conforming to delicate objects, eliminating the risk of damage associated with hard surfaces. The flexibility of the soft material allows stable contact without concentrating stress on vulnerable object surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Adaptability or versatility

If soft robotic actuators are used for handling objects, then adaptability and compliance are improved, but structural strength deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling adaptabilityVSAvoidactuator strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs pneumatic inflation systems to generate force within the soft actuators. By controlling the internal pressure of the elastomeric actuators, sufficient gripping and manipulation forces can be achieved despite the soft outer material. The pneumatic pressure provides the necessary structural support and force generation capability while maintaining the compliant exterior for adaptive handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Soft robotic actuators enable efficient handling and positioning of diverse objects without damage, reducing the need for special coatings and allowing for adaptive motion, improving handling of delicate items and reducing operational costs.

Implementation Method 1

configured to be inflated by supplying an inflation fluid to the reservoir

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInflation: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS11286144B2Soft robotic actuators for positioning, packaging, and assembling

Publication Date: 2022.03.29 SCHMALZ FLEXIBLE GRIPPING INC

AI summary

Exemplary embodiments relate to applications for soft robotic actuators in the manufacturing, packaging, and food preparation industries, among others. Methods and systems are disclosed for fixing target objects and/or receptacles using soft robotic actuators, for positioning target objects and/or receptacles, and/or for diverting or sorting objects. By using soft robotic actuators to perform the fixing, positioning, and/or diverting, objects of different sizes and configurations may be manipulated on the same processing line, without the need to reconfigure the line or install new hardware when a new object is received.