New valve adds resilience to soft robots

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Engineers at Sheffield University have developed a small and lightweight valve that makes soft robots more resilient to damage.

The new valve mimics the self-preservation of biological systems by giving them a way to respond to damage and protect themselves passively
The new valve mimics the self-preservation of biological systems by giving them a way to respond to damage and protect themselves passively - Sheffield University

Developed by Dr Marco Pontin and Dr Dana Damian from the University’s School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, the new valve automatically isolates damaged parts of a robot from the rest of the system, which prevents damage from spreading and allows the robot to function. Their findings are reported in Science Robotics.

Soft robots are made from flexible materials and are well-suited for tasks that would be difficult or dangerous for traditional robots, such as working in delicate environments or interacting with humans. Their flexibility also makes them more susceptible to damage.

The valve works by using air pressure to control the flow of fluids through the robot and can be used in two modes, namely forward and reverse operation.

In forward operation mode the valve can isolate a punctured section of the robot in as little as 21 milliseconds. This prevents the leak from causing further damage and allows the robot to continue operating.

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soft robotics