Bio-inspired soft robot with varied localized stiffness

Abstract

Soft robots are a type of intelligent robot with high adaptability, and the majority of them are made from soft materials, so they are flexible and adaptable. The variable stiffness function of soft robots is crucial, as it can enhance the robot's adaptability, safety, and dependability. By adjusting the stiffness, the soft robot is able to maintain a stable motion state in a complex environment, reduce environmental interference, and perform human-like actions with improved target control. The elephant trunk served as inspiration for the way proposed in this study for modifying the soft robot's arm's stiffness. By changing the insertion scheme of the interference plate in a flexible manner, the robot arm can have variable bending capability, allowing it to complete a variety of work instructions given by humans and to satisfy a variety of work requirements.