Highly integrated multi-material fibers for soft robotics
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Soft robots are envisioned as the next generation of safe biomedical devices in minimally invasive procedures. Yet, the difficulty of processing soft materials currently limits the size, aspect-ratio, manufacturing throughput, as well as, the design complexity and hence capabilities of soft robots. Multi-material thermal drawing is introduced as a material and processing platform to create soft robotic fibers imparted with multiple actuations and sensing modalities. Several thermoplastic and elastomeric material options for the fibers are presented, which all exhibit the rheological processing attributes for thermal drawing but varying mechanical properties, resulting in adaptable actuation performance. Moreover, numerous different fiber designs with intricate internal architectures, outer diameters of 700 µm, aspect ratios of 103, and a fabrication at a scale of 10s of meters of length are demonstrated. A modular tendon-driven mechanism enables 3-dimensional (3D) motion, and embedded optical guides, electrical wires, and microfluidic channels give rise to multifunctionality. The fibers can perceive and autonomously adapt to their environments, as well as, probe electrical properties, and deliver fluids and mechanical tools to spatially distributed targets.
Date Issued
2023-01-13
Date Acceptance
2022-11-01
Citation
Advanced Science, 2023, 10 (2), pp.1-10
ISSN
2198-3844
Publisher
Wiley Open Access
Start Page
1
End Page
10
Journal / Book Title
Advanced Science
Volume
10
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2022 The Authors. Advanced Science published by Wiley-VCH GmbH
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000888101700001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=a2bf6146997ec60c407a63945d4e92bb
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Technology
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Chemistry
Science & Technology - Other Topics
Materials Science
multi-material fibers
sensing and actuation
soft robotics
steerable catheters and endoscopes
thermal drawing
MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
MODELING APPROACH
DRIVEN
ACTUATOR
DESIGN
CATHETERS
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2022-11-22