Harvard College

Filip Ilievski

George M Whitesides

Robert F Shepherd

Stephen A Morin

Ramses V Martinez

Adam Stokes

Xin Chen

Zhigang Suo

Sen Wai Kwok

Zhihong Nie

Aaron D Mazzeo

Lihua Jin

Rui M D Nunes

Jamie L Branch

Carina R Fish

Won Jae Choi

Katherine Andrea Mirica

Sergey S Shevkoplyas

Audrey Ellerbee

Rui Nunes

Systems and methods for providing flexible robotic actuators are disclosed. Some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter include a soft robot capable of providing a radial deflection motions; a soft tentacle actuator capable of providing a variety of motions and providing transportation means for various types of materials; and a hybrid robotic system that retains desirable characteristics of both soft robots and hard robots. Some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter also include methods for operating the disclosed robotic systems.

Flexible robotic actuators

A soft robotic device includes a flexible body having a width, a length and a thickness, wherein the thickness is at least 1 mm, the flexible body having at least one channel disposed within the flexible body, the channel defined by upper, lower and side walls, wherein at least one wall is strain limiting; and a pressurizing inlet in fluid communication with the at least one channel, the at least one channel positioned and arranged such that the wall opposite the strain limiting wall preferentially expands when the soft robotic device is pressurized through the inlet.

Soft robotic actuators

The ability to assemble three-dimensional structures using diamagnetic particles suspended in solutions containing paramagnetic cations is described. The major advantages of this separation device are that: (i) it is a simple apparatus that does not require electric power (a set of permanent magnets and gravity are sufficient for the diamagnetic separation and collection system to work); ii) the assembled structures can be removed from the paramagnetic solution for further processing after fixing the structure; iii) the assembly is fast; and iv) it is small, portable.

Three dimensional assembly of diamagnetic materials using magnetic levitation

Growing community of inventors

Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Filip Ilievski