Soft Robots - Computerphile | Summary and Q&A

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February 26, 2019
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Computerphile
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Soft Robots - Computerphile

TL;DR

Cornell University researchers develop a soft sleeve with resistive sensors to map out the shape of objects, specifically grapes in vineyards, without damaging them.

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Key Insights

  • 👻 The soft sleeve with resistive sensors allows for non-intrusive mapping of object shapes.
  • 🤩 Manufacturability and simplicity are key factors in the design of the soft sleeve.
  • 🍦 The incorporation of other sensors in the soft sleeve expands its potential applications.
  • 🇲🇩 The fabrication process involves molding layers of silicone around foam to create fluid resistance.
  • 🍦 The foam structure inside the soft sleeve determines the delay between actuations.
  • 🎨 Cornell researchers are developing an automatic design synthesis program to optimize soft sleeve design.
  • 🤖 The ultimate goal is to create soft robots capable of various movements, such as swimming or crawling.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How does the soft sleeve with resistive sensors work?

The soft sleeve is made of layers of silicone, carbon black, and ecoflex gel. When inflated around an object, the resistive sensors map the shape by measuring changes in resistance over time.

Q: What other sensors can be incorporated into the soft sleeve?

Besides resistive sensors, other types of sensors can be added to the soft sleeve to gather additional data, such as ripeness or environmental factors.

Q: What equipment is used in the fabrication process?

The soft sleeve is not 3D printed but molded. It involves several steps, including layering ecoflex silicone, molding around a foam with 50% porosity, and creating fluid resistance for wave movements.

Q: How is the soft sleeve inflated?

A compressor is used to build up pressure, which is then introduced through a single inlet to enable actuations and movements of the soft sleeve.

Summary & Key Takeaways

  • The Collective Embodied Intelligence Lab at Cornell University focuses on creating large collectives of robots while minimizing manufacturing efforts.

  • The lab's soft sleeve project involves resistive sensors made of carbon black and ecoflex gel, which can be inflated around objects to map their shape.

  • The goal is to integrate the soft sleeve into vineyards, allowing for non-intrusive mapping of grape clusters to determine ripeness and other characteristics.

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