FiBa Transformative Soft Actuators Pave the Way for Future Soft Robotics

Researchers have made revolutionary advances in soft robotics by developing film-balloon (FiBa) soft robots. These innovative robots, designed by a team led by Dr. Terry Ching and corresponding author Professor Michinao Hashimoto, introduce a new manufacturing approach that enables lightweight, autonomous operation with advanced biomimetic locomotion capabilities.

The research is published in the journal Scientific roboticsThe research team comes from the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Queensland University of Technology (QUT).

The main innovation of these robots lies in the development of FiBa modules, which combine transversely curved thin polymer films with three-dimensionally printed pneumatic balloons. This combination significantly reduces the weight of the soft actuators, enabling untethered operations. FiBa modules serve as essential building blocks for creating soft robots capable of mimicking a wide range of natural movements.

Soft robots assembled using FiBa modules can reproduce a variety of natural movements, including turtle-inspired crawling, caterpillar-inspired climbing, bat-inspired perching, and ladybug-inspired flight. These locomotion modes demonstrate the versatility and potential of FiBa modules in many applications, showcasing their ability to operate in diverse and challenging environments.

The development of FiBa modules addresses one of the major challenges of soft robotics: freeing robots from electrical or pneumatic power sources. By significantly reducing the weight of soft actuators, researchers have enabled the integration of essential components such as pumps, valves, batteries and control boards, paving the way for fully autonomous soft robots. This advancement improves the operational capabilities and potential applications of soft robots.

The ability of FiBa soft robots to mimic natural locomotion strategies demonstrates their exceptional versatility. These capabilities could potentially enable the robots to operate in diverse and challenging environments previously inaccessible to traditional rigid robots, such as disaster zones, rugged terrain, and delicate biological environments.

The lightweight design of FiBa modules increases energy efficiency and operating times, which is beneficial for space exploration and search and rescue operations. Their adaptability and customization make them suitable for various sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare and agriculture.

Dr Ching, who carried out the work during his joint PhD at SUTD and NUS, was inspired by the transverse curvature of a carpenter’s tape.

“When I was thinking about creating lightweight actuators, the idea came to me while using a carpenter’s tape. Its ability to return to its initial position, thanks to the transverse curvature, inspired me to create FiBa modules. Our FiBa modules offer a new tool to design and customize lightweight, autonomous soft robots with advanced features. This advancement has the potential to transform the way we approach robotics design, especially for applications in harsh environments where traditional rigid robots are not up to par,” he explains.

A particularly innovative application is the development of aerial robots capable of deploying their wings autonomously, inspired by the flight mechanics of ladybugs. This innovation allows for compact transport and deployment in confined spaces, followed by autonomous deployment of the wings for flight.

Professor Foong Shaohui, Director of SUTD’s Air Innovation Research (AIR) Lab, added: “The ability to deploy wings autonomously in mid-flight is a significant advancement in aerial robotics. This capability enhances the operational flexibility of aerial robots and opens up new possibilities for deployment in challenging environments such as disaster zones and remote locations.”

Corresponding author Professor Hashimoto concludes: “This research demonstrates the power of interdisciplinary collaboration. By leveraging the unique strengths of our team members and institutions, we have developed a solution that addresses a critical challenge in soft robotics. FiBa modules provide a versatile and scalable platform for creating soft robots capable of performing a variety of tasks in different environments.”

This research involved collaborative efforts with expertise from multiple labs, including SUTD’s Soft Fluidics Lab led by Professor Hashimoto, SUTD’s Air Innovation Research Lab AIR led by Professor Foong, and QUT’s MicroTE Lab led by Professor Toh Yi-Chin. This interdisciplinary collaboration leverages expertise from diverse fields to address complex challenges in soft robotics.