Kinematic modelling and experimental testing of a particle-jamming soft robot based on a DEM-FEM coupling method

Abstract

Particle-jamming soft robots are characterised by high flexibility in motion and high stiffness when executing a task. Regarding particle jamming of soft robots, the discrete element method (DEM)-finite element method (FEM) coupling was used for modelling and control. At first, a real-time particle-jamming soft actuator was proposed by integrating advantages of the driving Pneu-Net and the driven particle-jamming mechanism. Then, DEM and FEM were separately employed to determine the force-chain structure of the particle-jamming mechanism and the bending deformation performance of the pneumatic actuator. Furthermore, the piecewise constant curvature method was adopted for forward and inverse kinematic modelling of the particle-jamming soft robot. Finally, a prototype of the coupled particle-jamming soft robot was prepared, and a visual tracking test platform was established. The adaptive control method was proposed to compensate for the accuracy of motion trajectories. The variable-stiffness performance of the soft robot was verified by conducting stiffness tests and bending tests. The results provide novel theoretical and technical support for the modelling and control of variable-stiffness soft robots.

Design, analysis, and testing of a variable-stiffness soft grabbing robot coupling particle jamming and layer jamming

“…At present, the coupled driving methods that integrating multiple driving modes have also become an important research direction [15,16], such as coupling of tendon actuation and hydraulic actuation [17], and coupling of pneumatic and jamming mechanisms [18,19]. Coupled soft actuators that combine flexibility and variable stiffening capacity are also of importance in the design of soft robots.…”