Forget the rigid, mechanical robots that populate assembly lines. A new protagonist is entering the scene: a robotic arm that moves by waving like a tentacle, or an octopus. This soft robotics marvel, developed by a team of researchers from EPFL and Delft University of Technology, is poised to revolutionize everything from healthcare to agriculture.
The incredible potential of soft robotics: a journey into innovation
In the laboratory CREATE from EPFL, science meets nature in a surprisingly harmonious way. Inspired by the versatility of elephant and octopus limbs, researchers have created a robotic arm that could be the future of soft robotics. This innovation, called “Cut Helicoid” (from its particular shape) promises to make human-robot interactions not only safer, but also more intuitive.
The genesis of the idea
Soft robotics, which most people know as soft robotics, is not a new concept. What the team led by Josie Hughes did, however, is quite advanced. Researchers they have been observing for months nature, studying the structure of the limbs of elephants and octopuses, and then applied these observations to robotics.
The result? A robotic arm that despite its extreme flexibility is also incredibly precise.
Practical applications
Imagine a world where robots can assist healthcare workers with delicate surgeries, or help farmers harvest fruit without damaging it. This robotic arm has the potential to make all of this possible. With its soft and flexible nature, it can adapt to a variety of tasks, making human-robot interactions safer and more efficient.
The research team has already filed a patent for this innovation and launched a joint start-up between EPFL and TU Delft called Helix Robotics. As Professor Hughes said, the aim is to “bring robots closer to humans, not just in terms of proximity, but also in terms of understanding and collaboration”.
