Medically-inspired approaches for the analysis of soft-robotic motion control

Abstract

Soft-robotic structures and their materials are typically chosen according to a biological example. Medical imaging has been used to obtain 3D models of biological structures to create moulds for production of artificial, soft robotic counterparts. However, it is not enough to simply copy the geometry of these organisms; robots must be able to be modeled, and controlled, such that they can perform meaningful tasks. This involves investigating the robot's capability after it has been manufactured. The similarities between the biological and artificial robotic materials allow us to use methods from medical imaging in soft robotics. This paper proposes the use of medical imaging and alternative medical investigation methods for the static and dynamic characterization of soft robots and involves two soft-robotic case studies: a peristaltic pump (swallowing robot), and a peristaltic table. Articulography and manometry are shown to be useful techniques for investigation of the peristaltic pumping robot, and visual 3D scanning is demonstrated for the peristaltic table. Alternative medical investigation methods such as magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and ultrasound are considered as other possibilities that require further investigation.