Developed by Dr. Hyung Gon Shin (Samsung Electronics, formerly of POSTECH), and Professors Keehoon Kim and Wan Kyun Chung from POSTECH's Mechanical Engineering Department, the innovation addresses longstanding limitations in robotics where strength often comes at the cost of flexibility.
Inspired by myosin - a protein responsible for muscle contraction - the researchers engineered a multilayered pneumatic actuator composed of small air chambers embedded within a flat sheet. Sequential inflation of these chambers produces controlled protrusions, allowing the robot to accumulate directional movement much like a caterpillar. This allows six degrees of motion - up, down, left, right, rotational, and vertical movement - along with programmable speed and travel distance.
In trials, the robot demonstrated high precision, successfully completing tasks such as delicate object handling, underwater movement, and pipeline cleaning - operations where traditional rigid robots falter. The team also developed a predictive mathematical model to guide future actuator designs.
The technology holds promise for minimally invasive surgical tools, industrial inspection systems, and caregiving or household robots that require gentle interaction and agile navigation.
Professor Keehoon Kim remarked, "We successfully integrated a complex three-dimensional pneumatic network within a thin and flexible structure, enabling multi-directional movements through a bio-inspired approach." He added, "We hope this technology will be applied in various fields, including surgical robots, collaborative robots in industrial settings, and exploration environments."
Research Report:Soft and flexible robot skin actuator using multilayer 3D pneumatic network
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