Soft robots move, squish, and bend more like living creatures than like nuts-and-bolts contraptions. Researchers are developing soft robots for applications that interact with people. Most (but not all) are based on inflatable silicone rubber materials, and some use tough strings and fibers to control which parts of the structure are allowed to expand. We used embroidery to create spiral patterns of strong fibers. When inflated, these dome-like actuators rotate up to 180 degrees in the direction that straightens out the fibers. More details here:
At the University of Louisville J. B. Speed School of Engineering
