Soft robotic actuators
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A soft body robotic device, comprising:
- a flexible molded body having a plurality of interconnected chambers disposed within the molded body, wherein a portion of the molded body is comprised of an elastically extensible material and a portion of the molded body is strain limiting relative to the elastically extensible material, and wherein the thickness of the molded body is at least 1 mm; and
a pressurizing inlet that is configured to receive fluid for the plurality of interconnected chambers,wherein the molded body is configured to preferentially expand when the plurality of interconnected chambers are pressurized by the fluid, causing a bending motion around the strain limiting portion of the molded body; and
wherein the strain limiting portion has a wall thickness greater than other portions of the flexible molded body.
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Abstract
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.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A soft body robotic device, comprising:
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a flexible molded body having a plurality of interconnected chambers disposed within the molded body, wherein a portion of the molded body is comprised of an elastically extensible material and a portion of the molded body is strain limiting relative to the elastically extensible material, and wherein the thickness of the molded body is at least 1 mm; and a pressurizing inlet that is configured to receive fluid for the plurality of interconnected chambers, wherein the molded body is configured to preferentially expand when the plurality of interconnected chambers are pressurized by the fluid, causing a bending motion around the strain limiting portion of the molded body; and
wherein the strain limiting portion has a wall thickness greater than other portions of the flexible molded body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A soft robotic device, comprising:
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a flexible molded body comprising a plurality of interconnected pleated chambers, the flexible molded body being comprised of a flexible material and affixed to a strain limiting member in such a manner that the strain limiting member forms a wall of the plurality of interconnected pleated chamber, wherein a thickness of the molded body is at least 1 mm; and a pressurizing inlet that is configured to receive fluid for the plurality of interconnected pleated chamber, wherein the plurality of interconnected pleated chambers are configured to preferentially unfold when the flexible molded body is pressurized through the pressurizing inlet, causing bending motion around the strain limiting member; and
wherein the strain limiting member has a wall thickness greater than other portions of the flexible molded body.
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23. A soft robotic device capable of extension, comprising:
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a flexible molded body having a plurality of interconnected chambers disposed within the molded body; and a sealing member in a facing relationship with the flexible molded body, wherein the flexible molded body and the sealing member together define a plurality of channels, said channel defined by upper, lower and side walls, and wherein the sealing member is in a state of compression in its resting state and a pressurizing inlet in fluid communication with the plurality of channels, the plurality of channels positioned and arranged such that the soft body robotic device expands to relieve the strain in the sealing member when the soft body robotic device is pressurized through the inlet. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A soft robotic device comprising:
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a flexible molded body having a plurality of interconnected chambers disposed within the molded body, wherein a portion of the molded body is comprised of an elastically extensible material and a portion of the molded body is strain limiting relative to the elastically extensible material, and wherein the thickness of the molded body is at least 1 mm; and a pressurizing inlet that is configured to receive fluid for the plurality of interconnected chambers, wherein the molded body is configured to preferentially expand when the plurality of interconnected chambers are pressurized by the fluid, causing a bending motion around the strain limiting portion of the molded body, wherein the molded body is comprised of a single material and the plurality of interconnected chambers comprise at least one wall that is thinner than the strain limiting portion or the strain limiting member.
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28. A soft robotic device comprising:
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a flexible molded body having a plurality of interconnected chambers disposed within the molded body, wherein a portion of the molded body is comprised of an elastically extensible material and a portion of the molded body is strain limiting relative to the elastically extensible material, and wherein the thickness of the molded body is at least 1 mm; a pressurizing inlet that is configured to receive fluid for the plurality of interconnected chambers; and a magnet; wherein the molded body is configured to preferentially expand when the plurality of interconnected chambers are pressurized by the fluid, causing a bending motion around the strain limiting portion of the molded body. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A soft robot capable of locomotion comprising:
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a plurality of arms, wherein each of the plurality of arms comprises; a flexible molded body having a plurality of interconnected chambers disposed within the molded body, wherein a portion of the molded body is comprised of an elastically extensible material and a portion of the molded body is strain limiting relative to the elastically extensible material, and wherein the thickness of the molded body is at least 1 mm; and a pressurizing inlet that is configured to receive fluid for the plurality of interconnected chambers, wherein the molded body is configured to preferentially expand when the plurality of interconnected chambers are pressurized by the fluid, causing a bending motion around the strain limiting portion of the molded body; wherein each of the plurality of arms has a gripping surface over which at least a portion of the plurality of arms engages with a terrain; and a plurality of pressurizing inlets configured to receive pressurized fluid. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification