Researchers have developed a flexible robotic arm that mimics an elephant’s trunk, capable of twisting while staying pliable in other directions.
The arm can perform activities like turning off a valve and installing a lamp because it uses bendable parts that become rigid when twisted.
The Northeastern University team claims that the invention may provide safer, more flexible substitutes for conventional rigid robots in industrial settings, lowering the possibility of mishaps and enhancing performance in challenging conditions.
“It’s flexible, extendable and compliant like an elephant trunk or octopus tentacle, but can also apply torques like a traditional industrial robot,” said Jeffrey Lipton, assistant professor of mechanical and industrial engineering at Northeastern, in a statement.
The TRUNC arm installing a lightbulb.
Flexible torque solutions
Robots come in two primary varieties: soft and hard. Frequently employed in industrial environments, rigid robots execute precise tasks quickly but present serious safety hazards.
These devices are frequently housed in cages to safeguard workers because of the potential for severe injury from their fast motions. Their strength lies in their ability to generate torque, making them ideal for tasks requiring powerful rotational force.
Conversely, soft robots draw inspiration from organic forms such as octopus tentacles and elephant trunks. They are excellent at moving around, being adaptable, and safely interacting with people and challenging situations.
In contrast to stiff robots, a soft robotic arm may inadvertently inflict less damage than a rigid one, lowering the possibility of serious injury.
The hybrid robot uses a new material, like the constant-velocity joints in car axles.
Both kinds of robots offer benefits when it comes to delicate jobs like changing a lightbulb. Although a stiff robot can secure the bulb with the required torque, it is not flexible enough to maneuver in confined locations. Although they are not as strong, soft robots can adjust to their environment and handle delicate objects without getting hurt.
The group examined how integrating the advantages of both systems could result in more secure and adaptable robotic solutions for a range of sectors.
Adaptive robotic arm
Inspired by the dexterity of octopus tentacles and elephant trunks, researchers developed mechanical units called Torsionally Rigid Universal Couplings (TRUNCs). These units can bend and extend while stiffening when twisted, allowing them to transmit force efficiently.
Each TRUNC consists of a sphere with two poles, an equator, and axial links connecting the poles. Twisting the poles relative to each other increases stiffness, providing structural support while maintaining flexibility.
The researchers created two TRUNC variants with different movement capabilities. They demonstrated that TRUNCs could be connected in series to form flexible shafts or nested to enhance rotational movement. Using a combination of both configurations, they constructed a soft robotic arm and trained a neural network to interpret its joint movements.
The TRUNC arm was able to accomplish a number of tasks, such as smoothly shutting off a leaky valve, carefully inserting and screwing a lightbulb into a socket, and securely securing motherboard bolts while assisting a person. This design demonstrates how soft robotics can be used in applications that call for both torque and flexibility.
The team believes that TRUNC-based arms could offer useful, safer substitutes for conventional rigid robots in commercial and industrial contexts since they can carry out tasks safely in cooperative situations.
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The details of the team’s research were published in the journal Science Robotics.
Jijo Malayil Jijo is an automotive and business journalist based in India. Armed with a BA in History (Honors) from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, and a PG diploma in Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi, he has worked for news agencies, national newspapers, and automotive magazines. In his spare time, he likes to go off-roading, engage in political discourse, travel, and teach languages.
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