In a recent article published in the journal Communications Materials, researchers Lucas Carolus van Laake and Johannes Tesse Bastiaan Overvelde from the Netherlands explored bio-inspired autonomy in soft robotics. They examined the challenges and potential solutions for enhancing autonomy, focusing on control and energy independence by taking inspiration from natural organisms and environments.
Study: Bio-inspired autonomy in soft robots. Image Credit: Besjunior/Shutterstock.com
While soft robots have successfully mimicked natural movements, achieving the same level of autonomy remains a significant challenge. This research suggested that advancing the field requires understanding how nature interacts with the environment, potentially leading to more autonomous bio-inspired soft robots.
Background
Soft robotics has emerged as a field that draws considerable inspiration from nature to design robots capable of compliance, adaptability, and versatile activities. Unlike traditional rigid robots, soft robots can mimic the movements and behaviors of natural organisms. Many successful bio-inspired designs include soft actuators that mimic organisms like the Venus flytrap and elephant trunks, sometimes surpassing their natural models.
However, while actuation has made remarkable progress, achieving control and energy autonomy remains a significant hurdle. Unlike bacteria, plants, and animals that exhibit complex, autonomous behavior without external control, existing soft robots still rely on external energy sources and control inputs, which limits their functionality and adaptability in real-world environments.
About the Research
The paper addressed the gap between the autonomy of soft robotic systems and natural organisms. It defined measures of energy and control autonomy and classified a selection of soft robots. The authors argued that focusing on the interactions between soft robots and their environments is key to advancing the field. By understanding how natural organisms use their surroundings to achieve autonomy, they believed that more autonomous bio-inspired soft robots could be designed.
The study examined various natural examples, including the human heart, to illustrate the principles of control and energy autonomy. The heart operates independently of external control inputs and gathers energy from its environment, making it an ideal model for autonomous soft robots. The researchers also discussed the latest advancements in autonomous soft robotics, highlighting examples such as the Octobot, robotic fish, and modular robots, and comparing their levels of autonomy to those found in natural systems.
Key Findings and Insights
The outcomes showed that while soft robots have made significant progress in actuation, their autonomy remains limited compared to natural organisms. For example, the Octobot, a soft robotic demonstrator, can function without user input for a few minutes but remains stationary. The robotic fish, equipped with sensors and a camera, can swim autonomously for up to 40 minutes but still needs external commands for navigation. Similarly, the multi-gait robot can perform different locomotion patterns but heavily depends on a rigid control system for effective operation.
The study also highlighted the importance of compliance in achieving autonomy. Soft robots that interact with their environments, such as the continuously learning modular robot and the relaxation oscillator robot, exhibit higher levels of control autonomy. These robots adapt their behaviors based on physical interactions, leveraging their environments to achieve desired outcomes. The authors proposed a holistic view of soft robot control, where the robot’s brain, body, and environment work together to produce autonomous behavior.
Applications
This research has significant implications for the future of soft robotics. Autonomous soft robots can be applied in various fields, including industrial automation, medical devices, and environmental monitoring. For example, soft robotic grippers can be used in agriculture to handle delicate fruits without causing damage.
In the medical field, soft robots can be designed as implants or prosthetics that adapt to the body’s movements and provide long-term functionality. Additionally, autonomous soft robots can be deployed in exploration missions, navigating complex terrains and performing tasks without human intervention.
Conclusion and Future Scope
The paper summarized that achieving natural levels of autonomy in soft robots requires a deeper understanding of the interactions between robots and their environments. By studying natural systems like the human heart, scientists can develop bio-inspired methods to enhance the autonomy of soft robots. The researchers emphasized that complete autonomy should not be the ultimate goal; instead, the focus should be on designing robots with appropriate levels of autonomy for specific tasks and environments.
Future research should explore the principles of autonomy in nature, using soft robotics as a platform for multidisciplinary studies. This includes investigating energy efficiency, control algorithms, and integrating energy harvesting systems. By leveraging the environment as a resource, soft robots can achieve higher autonomy and perform more complex tasks. Overall, this research provides a roadmap for future advancements in soft robotics and highlights the potential for bio-inspired designs to revolutionize various fields.
Journal Reference
van Laake, L.C., Overvelde, J.T.B. Bio-inspired autonomy in soft robots. Commun Mater 5, 198 (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s43246-024-00637-7, https://www.nature.com/articles/s43246-024-00637-7
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