Soft robotics is a developing field focused on robots made from soft, flexible materials, touted for safer interactions with humans and greater degrees of freedom compared to their rigid counterparts. For this project, we expand on our previous work with fluid-driven, origami-inspired artificial muscles to design and build soft robotic modules capable of being combined in a large-scale reconfigurable robotic system. The module is made from foam artificial muscles that bend when negative pressure is applied and implements a novel sensor feedback system capable of measuring and controlling nonlinear motions. We will evaluate the mechanical properties and controller and demonstrate the capabilities of a large-scale soft robotic system.

“I am participating in SuperUROP to further develop high-level research skills and continue to learn about and contribute to the field of soft robotics. I am excited to design, build, and code my own soft robot creation and take ownership of a project. After working on a UROP in soft robotics last year, I want to take my research to the next level and apply what I have already learned to further advance my group and field of study.”