Reporter:

Shinichi Hirai, Japan

Titles:

Soft Robotics – How Softness Contributes to Manipulation and Locomotion

Abstract:

Robotics has been focused on rigid body systems but biological systems mainly composed of soft materials.  I believe that robotic systems should contain soft materials as biological systems to improve the ability of robotic systems.  Here I introduce two researches where softness is a key to the ability.  One is the manipulation performed by soft fingertips.  I will show that soft-fingered manipulation is superior to hard-fingered manipulation theoretically. 

Also, I will show that soft-fingered manipulation can cope with delay in vision and signal transmission, which are commonly observed in biological systems.  Second issue is locomotion by the deformation of robot bodies.  Robot bodies work as mechanical capacitors that store and release potential energy for locomotion.  I will show the locomotion performed by circular and spherical soft robots as well as tensegrity robots.

Time:

AM 9:30, 17th of March 2010

Place:

The Forth Floor Meeting Room,  Buliding R