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Main Authors: Zhang, Haiyun, Naquila, Gabrielle, Bae, Jung Hyun, Wu, Zonghuan, Hingwe, Ashwin, Deshpande, Ashish
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.01145
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author Zhang, Haiyun
Naquila, Gabrielle
Bae, Jung Hyun
Wu, Zonghuan
Hingwe, Ashwin
Deshpande, Ashish
author_facet Zhang, Haiyun
Naquila, Gabrielle
Bae, Jung Hyun
Wu, Zonghuan
Hingwe, Ashwin
Deshpande, Ashish
contents Soft robots have been increasingly utilized as sophisticated tools in physical rehabilitation, particularly for assisting patients with neuromotor impairments. However, many soft robotics for rehabilitation applications are characterized by limitations such as slow response times, restricted range of motion, and low output force. There are also limited studies on the precise position and force control of wearable soft actuators. Furthermore, not many studies articulate how bellow-structured actuator designs quantitatively contribute to the robots' capability. This study introduces a paradigm of upper limb soft actuator design. This paradigm comprises two actuators: the Lobster-Inspired Silicone Pneumatic Robot (LISPER) for the elbow and the Scallop-Shaped Pneumatic Robot (SCASPER) for the shoulder. LISPER is characterized by higher bandwidth, increased output force/torque, and high linearity. SCASPER is characterized by high output force/torque and simplified fabrication processes. Comprehensive analytical models that describe the relationship between pressure, bending angles, and output force for both actuators were presented so the geometric configuration of the actuators can be set to modify the range of motion and output forces. The preliminary test on a dummy arm is conducted to test the capability of the actuators.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2509_01145
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Novel bio-inspired soft actuators for upper-limb exoskeletons: design, fabrication and feasibility study
Zhang, Haiyun
Naquila, Gabrielle
Bae, Jung Hyun
Wu, Zonghuan
Hingwe, Ashwin
Deshpande, Ashish
Robotics
Soft robots have been increasingly utilized as sophisticated tools in physical rehabilitation, particularly for assisting patients with neuromotor impairments. However, many soft robotics for rehabilitation applications are characterized by limitations such as slow response times, restricted range of motion, and low output force. There are also limited studies on the precise position and force control of wearable soft actuators. Furthermore, not many studies articulate how bellow-structured actuator designs quantitatively contribute to the robots' capability. This study introduces a paradigm of upper limb soft actuator design. This paradigm comprises two actuators: the Lobster-Inspired Silicone Pneumatic Robot (LISPER) for the elbow and the Scallop-Shaped Pneumatic Robot (SCASPER) for the shoulder. LISPER is characterized by higher bandwidth, increased output force/torque, and high linearity. SCASPER is characterized by high output force/torque and simplified fabrication processes. Comprehensive analytical models that describe the relationship between pressure, bending angles, and output force for both actuators were presented so the geometric configuration of the actuators can be set to modify the range of motion and output forces. The preliminary test on a dummy arm is conducted to test the capability of the actuators.
title Novel bio-inspired soft actuators for upper-limb exoskeletons: design, fabrication and feasibility study
topic Robotics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.01145