Japanese team develops predictable jumping soft robots

Soft robots are made from flexible materials and hold promise for delicate tasks, but their complex movements have been difficult to predict and control, particularly dynamic actions such as jumping.

Now, a team from Keio University and the University of Osaka has published a study in Advanced Robotics Research detailing the physics behind the jump of thin hemispherical shells, a fundamental building block for jumping soft robots.

The team analysed the jumping dynamics of these half-sphere-shaped shells. Using a combination of precision experiments, numerical simulations, and theoretical calculations, they focused on the role of contact between the shell and the ground.

They fabricated various silicone rubber hemispherical shells and used a desktop-scale experimental setup with air pressure to control their deformation.

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Multiple sensors captured the rapid shape changes, providing data for analysis. To further investigate this phenomenon, they employed the Material Point Method (MPM) to create a numerical simulation, reproducing the shell's complex deformation during the jump.