From improving colonoscopy procedures to enabling resilient robots in extreme environments, Ellie Gabel explores how pneumatic pressure and soft robotics drive safer, versatile collaborative automation.
As people explore how to bring robots into their workflow, many develop collaborative models featuring pneumatic systems and soft appearance.
These options increase safety and versatility, helping users achieve more results and make tasks more enjoyable.
Improved safety and effectiveness of colonoscopy
Colonoscopy is an important method of screening for bowel cancer, but it has many drawbacks. Their overall effectiveness is related to the preparation steps and the skills of the endoscope.
The traditional endoscopes used in these procedures also provide limited dexterity and sometimes lead to colon perforation, heavy bleeding, and discomfort.
Researchers propose to tackle these issues with a soft robotic platform that automatically deploys and inflates pneumatic actuators to reduce complications, with real-time force sensors that minimize colon damage.
This innovation is mounted on existing endoscopes and includes a user interface for healthcare providers to monitor procedures while they are working. If the robot detects too much pressure, it will reposition it to a larger surface area for greater safety.
The team tested the creation with seven users while performing in vivo experiments. Participants’ knowledge levels range from beginner to advanced, and the results show that robotic systems can be seamlessly brought into existing workflows.
Invaluable user feedback revealed how the tool affected the mental and physical load of endoscopes. A pair of experienced experts used this solution on two pigs during in vivo testing.
Features such as soft sleeves and a steerable endoscope increase patient comfort and reduce the chances of false negatives. The researchers also installed digital pressure sensors with manual regulatory options and filters equipped with actuators to remove dust and other contaminants from the air.
Medical robots are widely used in healthcare settings, as evidenced by three of the four prostate manipulations performed by a particular surgical model. Accessibility is one of the main differentiators of this endoscope robot and fits the edges of traditional instruments.
Many other products are very expensive and take up important space. These characteristics make it more difficult for some facilities to adopt them. Early research may improve the applicability of the tool, as experiments involve people of varying levels of endoscopy experience.
Improved versatility of robots in demanding conditions
People often send robots to places that are dangerous for humans to visit before humans can investigate the situation themselves.
These machines are now useful for search and rescue missions or situations where parties suspect the presence of explosive or dangerous materials.
The pneumatic robot also works at temperatures ranging from zero F to 40°C, below 248 degrees, making it ideal for extreme settings.
Those developing these machines should decide which power supplies are most appropriate, especially when frequent battery charging becomes unrealistic or unfeasible. The researchers addressed the problem by creating a soft, flexible six-legged robot from 3D printer filament.
They operated the machine by constructing pneumatic vibration circuits that controlled the repetitive movement of the soft actuator. Adjust the robot’s legs by sending air pressure at the appropriate time and alternate distributions between both sets. This approach allows four degrees of freedom, allowing the bot to walk in a straight line.
Bots can be moved outdoors without covering surfaces such as sand or grass. The experiments showed that even underwater it expanded potential use cases. The robot works for three consecutive days for cans of air or gas under constant pressure.
Researchers want to expand their capabilities by adding manipulators to allow these innovations to pick up things or perform other tasks.
If people attach a camera or sensor to the robot, the machine will help assess the situation while it remains at a safe distance. Then, decide on the next step based on what the data feed reveals.
Reduces development time frame for pneumatic actuators
These components allow you to hold the items firmly without breaking, resulting in soft, pneumatic actuators frequently appearing in the co-robot. It also improves safety by preventing injuries when employees come into contact with a moving robot by mistake.
Some engineers will also incorporate these pneumatic actuators into their aid devices and rehabilitation products to expand how innovation can help people.
Pneumatic actuator creators often encounter bottlenecks caused by the extensive trial and error required to ascertain the feasibility of a prototype. Researchers focused on the issue by creating specific pipelines to shorten the process.
Their approach focuses on the mechanical knitting process to produce soft actuators and features conductive yarn that gives them tactile sensing capabilities.
The team created several prototypes, including assistant gloves, interactive robots, and pneumatic walking quadruped animals, all wrapped in soft cloth.
The software used to build them allows users to preview and iterate the design, allowing them to be manufactured only once. This profit speeds up the process and unleashes creativity.
Find a powerful pairing of pneumatic pressure and soft robotics
These fascinating examples illustrate why soft, pneumatically driven robots have extraordinary potential to assist humans in a variety of tasks. These successful results demonstrate that machines and people can work together safely and productively.
The possibilities should become even more obvious once these developments reach widespread adoption outside the laboratory.
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