Bio-Inspired Soft Octo-bot for Underwater Environment Monitoring Using 3D Printing and Soft Mold-Casting

As the title of the project suggests, we are designing the Bio-inspired Soft Octopus Robot for underwater environmental monitoring. From the word soft, we actually state that the final product designed will be completely a soft robot, meaning it will not possess any hard material (component) li

Project Title

Bio-Inspired Soft Octo-bot for Underwater Environment Monitoring Using 3D Printing and Soft Mold-Casting

Project Area of Specialization

Robotics

Project Summary

As the title of the project suggests, we are designing the Bio-inspired Soft Octopus Robot for underwater environmental monitoring. From the word soft, we actually state that the final product designed will be completely a soft robot, meaning it will not possess any hard material (component) like the motors, gears, etc. The hard robots that are widely in use today and have already achieved precision and accuracy but they are limited by their reach-ability and adaptability.  Simply stating, the hard robot of 50 cm diameter, cannot pass through the hole of 30 cm diameter. Similarly, the hard robot is not easily adaptable in the environment as it does not look natural. For example, if the hard material based fish robot is left in the water, the water creatures will not react naturally towards the robot. So, in order to overcome these shortcomings, the idea of soft robotics comes into pictures and serves as the basis of our motivation for this project. 

So we are going to design a soft octopus robot that will have the capability of better reach-ability and adaptability in an unstructured environment. The final product (soft octopus) at the end will have the ability to swim in the water and squeeze through the narrow hole. Moreover, we are using silicone rubber as a soft material and Nitinol wires as a source of actuation. The wires are put in the rubber, when provided heat, actuate and thus provide the locomotion. 

As far the progress is concerned, we are working on Comsol simulation, and we have designed the SolidWorks model for 3D printing, the next step is to get the 3D model from Fablab Sukkur IBA University which costs approximately 40k.

Project Objectives

The objectives of the project are given below;

• To design and develop a Bio-inspired Octo-bot
  for Under-Water monitoring.
• Enhancing the ability and flexibly to study and
  observe the underwater environment
  effectively with the use of Bio-inspired
  Octo-bot.

Project Implementation Method

soft molds of octopus head and limbs, we have used the Solid works software. The limbs and head are designed separately in order to avoid the issues that could be caused while casting. After the limbs are printed, we can use those casts for making limbs and head.

The methodology is given;

• Solidworks  Model
• 3D Printed Models
• Mold Casting
• Assembly
• Connections
• Programming

Benefits of the Project

• Soft prosthetic hand

The human hand is more similar to soft robot, using hard conventional robot as it can be expensive as they are complex and sophisticated mechanisms. Soft robotics is an interesting alternative that overcomes above issues. Soft robots are made of flexible materials, hence, they are compliant by design. They adapt easily to the environment without the need for additional sensing or control. The control of soft robot can be simplified as part of it is achieved by the flexible structure itself adapting to the handled object passively. Since soft robots are made of soft and compliant materials such as silicone rubber, they can efficiently operate without expensive sensing; thus, they are heap and affordable. They are also considered to be safer than traditional robots regarding robot-human interaction because of their inherently soft structure

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

These details are given below as;

The dimensions of the soft robot are;  

• Limbs: dia=7mm length=75mm
• Head: dia=20mm height=30mm

• The soft octopus designed will be able to swim in the water.
• The soft octopus will be able to measure the water temperature and monitor the environment.
• It will be completely soft.

Final Deliverable of the Project

HW/SW integrated system

Core Industry

Health

Other Industries

Education , Medical , Manufacturing , Security

Core Technology

Robotics

Other Technologies

3D/4D Printing, Others

Sustainable Development Goals

Life Below Water

Required Resources

If you need this project, please contact me on contact@adikhanofficial.com