The present disclosure provides an actuator including a pouch which is sealed and formed with an asymmetric structure, a dielectric fluid which is filled in the pouch, and an electrode which is attached to one surface of the pouch and the other surface opposite the one surface, wherein the pouch includes a first part provided on one side and having a predetermined area, and a second part provided on the other side opposite the one side and having a smaller area than the first part, and when power is applied to the electrodes, the first part or the second part of the pouch is expandable by movement of the dielectric fluid due to the asymmetric structure, and an active plate having the same.

A multiple hydraulic robot system for precisely installing a girder according to the present disclosure may comprise: four hydraulic robots connected to both sides of two connection plates which are coupled to both ends of the top surface of a girder installed between bridge piers and to which cables of a crane are connected, wherein the robots move the girder horizontally and vertically; a hydraulic system for operating actuators of the four hydraulic robots; and a controller which controls the remotely operated four hydraulic robots by means of a synchronization control algorithm to precisely adjust the installing position of the girder.

A multiple hydraulic robot system for precisely installing a girder according to the present disclosure may comprise: four hydraulic robots connected to both sides of two connection plates which are coupled to both ends of the top surface of a girder installed between bridge piers and to which cables of a crane are connected, wherein the robots move the girder horizontally and vertically; a hydraulic system for operating actuators of the four hydraulic robots; and a controller which controls the remotely operated four hydraulic robots by means of a synchronization control algorithm to precisely adjust the installing position of the girder.

A continuum arm robot comprising: a tool, a tip section comprising a number of sections a manipulatable robotic section having multiple degrees of freedom, a stiffening section comprising a passive core with an inflatable section surrounding the passive core and a valve for allowing a fluid into the inflatable outer; and a passive section comprising a length of flexible conduit, wherein the core of the passive section and the stiffening section contain the cables for manipulating the tip section and the fluid conduit for supplying the fluid to the inflatable outer.

A robotic end-effector to provide an anthropomorphic hand with a dorsal actuation system. The hand has a substantially planar palm and fingers extending from the palm and capable of flexion and extension relative to the palm. The dorsal actuation system is supported on the palm and fingers, with actuators positioned at a dorsal side of the palm and links positioned at a dorsal side of the fingers.

An artificial muscle including a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, the housing defining an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion, a strain sensor integrated into at least one of the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion of the housing, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing. The electrode pair includes a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the electrode pair is configured to actuate between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region, expanding the expandable fluid region to deform the strain sensor.

Exemplary embodiments relate to applications for soft robotic actuators in the manufacturing, packaging, and food preparation industries, among others. Methods and systems are disclosed for packaging target objects using soft robotic actuators, for moving and positioning target objects and/or receptacles, and/or for diverting or sorting objects. By using soft robotic actuators to perform the fixing, positioning, and/or diverting, objects of different sizes and configurations may be manipulated on the same processing line, without the need to reconfigure the line or install new hardware when a new object is received.

A pneumatic exomuscle system and methods for manufacturing and using same. The pneumatic exomuscle system includes a pneumatic module; a plurality of pneumatic actuators each operably coupled to the pneumatic module via at least one pneumatic line, a portion of the pneumatic actuators configured to be worn about respective body joints of a user; and a control module operably coupled to the pneumatic module, the control module configured to control the pneumatic module to selectively inflate portions of the pneumatic actuators.

Provided is a soft growing robot which may be precisely controlled by reducing the effect of a tail tension applied to its inner periphery, the soft growing robot including: a case having one open side; and a vine including an outer periphery having one end fixed to one side surface of the case, the inner periphery disposed inside the outer periphery while being spaced apart from the outer periphery and extended into the case, a tip connecting the other end of the outer periphery and one end of the inner periphery to each other, and a tip space formed by the outer periphery, the tip and the inner periphery, and a tip space formed by the outer periphery, the tip and the inner periphery, wherein a diameter of the tip is smaller than a diameter of the outer periphery, thereby forming a bent portion between the tip and the outer periphery.

An artificial muscle system includes an artificial muscle and a power supply. The artificial muscle includes an electrode pair including a first electrode and a second electrode, an electrical insulator membrane fixed to the second electrode, a housing including an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, the electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing, and a dielectric fluid housed within the housing. The power supply includes a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The positive terminal is electrically coupled to the second electrode. The negative terminal is electrically coupled to the first electrode. The electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region.