Flexible robotic actuators

Title: Flexible robotic actuators

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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.

Inventors:: Morin, Stephen A.; Shepherd, Robert F.; Stokes, Adam; Ilievski, Filip; Martinez, Ramses V.; Branch, Jamie L.; Fish, Carina R.; Jin, Lihua; Nunes, Rui M. D.; Suo, Zhigang; Whitesides, George M.

Issue Date:: 2018-05-29

OSTI Identifier:: 1455184

Assignee:: President and Fellows of Harvard College (Cambridge, MA) CHO

Patent Number(s):: 9,981,377

Application Number:: 14/480,106

Contract Number:: FG02-00ER45852

Resource Relation:: Patent File Date: 2014 Sep 08

Research Org:: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Cambridge, MA (United States)

Sponsoring Org:: USDOE

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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