A facile fabricating method for smart soft robotic hand

• Published in: Polymer engineering and science Vol. 63; no. 1; pp. 118 - 125
• Main Authors: Du, Haiyang, Yao, Yongtao, Zhou, Xiaoli
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-01-2023; Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Actuation; Biopolymers; Curing; Design and construction; End effectors; load‐bearing capability; Materials; Mechanical properties; Methods; Ohmic dissipation; Polylactic acid; Resistance heating; Robot arms; Room temperature; Rubber; shape memory alloy; Shape memory alloys; Silicon; Silicone rubber; smart soft robotic hand; Soft robotics; Stainless steels; Three dimensional printing; China
• ISSN: 0032-3888; 1548-2634
• DOI: 10.1002/pen.26190

A facile fabricating method was proposed for a smart soft robotic hand (SSRH) composed of shape memory alloy (SMA) wires, stainless‐steel springs, and silicon rubber matrix by one‐step curing technology. The SMA wires were embedded into a flexible matrix by pouring silicon rubber into a 3D‐printed hand‐like polylactic acid mold. The good demoulding property was verified after curing at room temperature for 6 h. In addition, the reversible bending behaviors of SSRH were demonstrated by Joule heating actuation. Moreover, the high load‐bearing capability was evaluated by suspending the weight experiment. All the results can provide a new guide for soft robotic hands in future medicinal applications.
Fabricating process of smart soft robotic hand.