Design, Control, and Testing of a Multifunctional Soft Robotic Gripper

This paper proposes a multifunctional soft robotic gripper for a Dobot robot to handle sensitive products. The gripper is based on pneumatic network (PneuNet) bending actuators. In this study, two different models of PneuNet actuators have been studied, designed, simulated, experimentally tested, an...

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Main Authors: Ana Correia, Tiago Charters, Afonso Leite, Francisco Campos, Nuno Monge, André Rocha, Mário J. G. C. Mendes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Actuators
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0825/13/12/476
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author Ana Correia
Tiago Charters
Afonso Leite
Francisco Campos
Nuno Monge
André Rocha
Mário J. G. C. Mendes
author_facet Ana Correia
Tiago Charters
Afonso Leite
Francisco Campos
Nuno Monge
André Rocha
Mário J. G. C. Mendes
author_sort Ana Correia
collection DOAJ
description This paper proposes a multifunctional soft robotic gripper for a Dobot robot to handle sensitive products. The gripper is based on pneumatic network (PneuNet) bending actuators. In this study, two different models of PneuNet actuators have been studied, designed, simulated, experimentally tested, and validated using two different techniques (3D printing and molding) and three different materials: FilaFlex 60A (3D-printed), Elastosil M4601, and Dragonskin Fast 10 silicones (with molds). A new soft gripper design for the Dobot robot is presented, and a new design/production approach with molds is proposed to obtain the gripper’s PneuNet multifunctional actuators. It also describes a new control approach that is used to control the PneuNet actuators and gripper function, using compressed air generated by a small compressor/air pump, a pressure sensor, a mini valve, etc., and executing on a low-cost controller board—Arduino UNO. This paper presents the main simulation and experimental results of this research study.
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publishDate 2024-11-01
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series Actuators
spelling doaj-art-fb1f2f6cc62c4bb489e780be78ed318f2025-08-20T02:53:38ZengMDPI AGActuators2076-08252024-11-01131247610.3390/act13120476Design, Control, and Testing of a Multifunctional Soft Robotic GripperAna Correia0Tiago Charters1Afonso Leite2Francisco Campos3Nuno Monge4André Rocha5Mário J. G. C. Mendes6ISEL—Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1959-007 Lisbon, PortugalISEL—Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1959-007 Lisbon, PortugalISEL—Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1959-007 Lisbon, PortugalISEL—Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1959-007 Lisbon, PortugalESELx—Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1549-003 Lisbon, PortugalESELx—Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1549-003 Lisbon, PortugalISEL—Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1959-007 Lisbon, PortugalThis paper proposes a multifunctional soft robotic gripper for a Dobot robot to handle sensitive products. The gripper is based on pneumatic network (PneuNet) bending actuators. In this study, two different models of PneuNet actuators have been studied, designed, simulated, experimentally tested, and validated using two different techniques (3D printing and molding) and three different materials: FilaFlex 60A (3D-printed), Elastosil M4601, and Dragonskin Fast 10 silicones (with molds). A new soft gripper design for the Dobot robot is presented, and a new design/production approach with molds is proposed to obtain the gripper’s PneuNet multifunctional actuators. It also describes a new control approach that is used to control the PneuNet actuators and gripper function, using compressed air generated by a small compressor/air pump, a pressure sensor, a mini valve, etc., and executing on a low-cost controller board—Arduino UNO. This paper presents the main simulation and experimental results of this research study.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0825/13/12/476soft roboticsmultifunctional soft PneuNet actuatorssoft robotic gripperhyperelastic modelsDobot robot
spellingShingle Ana Correia
Tiago Charters
Afonso Leite
Francisco Campos
Nuno Monge
André Rocha
Mário J. G. C. Mendes
Design, Control, and Testing of a Multifunctional Soft Robotic Gripper
Actuators
soft robotics
multifunctional soft PneuNet actuators
soft robotic gripper
hyperelastic models
Dobot robot
title Design, Control, and Testing of a Multifunctional Soft Robotic Gripper
title_full Design, Control, and Testing of a Multifunctional Soft Robotic Gripper
title_fullStr Design, Control, and Testing of a Multifunctional Soft Robotic Gripper
title_full_unstemmed Design, Control, and Testing of a Multifunctional Soft Robotic Gripper
title_short Design, Control, and Testing of a Multifunctional Soft Robotic Gripper
title_sort design control and testing of a multifunctional soft robotic gripper
topic soft robotics
multifunctional soft PneuNet actuators
soft robotic gripper
hyperelastic models
Dobot robot
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0825/13/12/476
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