• 로봇학회논문지
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.17-22
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• 2021

Soft robot research has been actively conducted due to the advantages of soft materials that have less motion restrictions and higher energy efficiency compared to rigid robots. In particular, soft robots are being applied in more and more diverse fields, and the need for soft robots is increasing, especially when dealing with soft or deformable objects that rigid robots cannot perform. Various soft robots are being developed, and studies on artificial muscles with versatility, seamless integration with sensing, and self-healing capabilities are being proposed. In this study, we propose one of the most simple rectangular shaped HASEL (Hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic) actuators and compare the performance according to shape deformation such as the size or ratio of actuators and electrodes. Developing these actuators can be used in many ways for artificial muscles in soft robotics.

• 로봇학회논문지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.39-44
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• 2024

This study introduces a novel method for predicting the shape of soft catheter robots embedded with electromagnets. As an advancement in the realm of soft robotics, these catheter robots are crafted from flexible and pliable materials, ensuring enhanced safety and adaptability during interactions with human tissues. Given the pivotal role of catheters in minimally invasive surgeries (MIS), our design stands out by facilitating active control over the orientation and intensity of the inbuilt electromagnets. This ensures precise targeting and manipulation of the catheter segments. The research encompasses a comprehensive breakdown of the magnetic modeling, tracking algorithms, experimental layout, and analytical techniques. Both simulation and experimental results validate the efficacy of our method, underscoring its potential to augment accuracy in MIS and revolutionize healthcare-oriented soft robotics.

• 제어로봇시스템학회논문지
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.531-537
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• 2015

Hand function is one of the essential functions required to perform the activities of daily living, and wearable robots that assist or recover hand functions have been consistently developed. Previously, wearable robots commonly employed conventional robotic technology such as linkage which consists of rigid links and pin joints. Recently, as the interest in soft robotics has increased, many attempts to develop a wearable robot with a soft structure have been made and are in progress in order to reduce size and weight. This paper presents the concept of a soft wearable robot composed of a soft structure by comparing it with conventional wearable robots. After that, currently developed soft wearable robots and related issues are introduced.

• 로봇학회논문지
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.263-269
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• 2017

Recently, soft robots using soft materials are presented. Thanks to soft materials, soft robots have flexible, highly-stretchable or adaptable features. However, due to the flexibility of soft material, it is hard for soft robots to control accurately or perform high force. To deal with these limitations, variable stiffness technology, which enables the stiffness control of structure, has been developed. In this research, a dual-stiffness structure that is actuated by the assembly of two flexible structures are presented. Each flexible structure consists of flexible film part and rigid parts placed at regular intervals. The flexibility of film between rigid parts allows each structure to move softly. On the other hand, by combining two structures rigid part of each part constrain the degrees of freedom of the other side part. And this causes the stiffness of whole structure to be increased. This paper will cover concepts, design, analysis and experiments of this structure.

• 한국전기전자재료학회논문지
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• 제34권6호
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• pp.401-415
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• 2021

Soft robots are promising devices for applications in drug delivery, sensing, and manufacturing. Traditional hard robotics are manufactured with rigid materials and their degrees of motion are constrained by the orientation of the joints. In contrast to rigid counterpart, soft robotics, employing soft and stretchable materials that easily deforms in shape, can realize complex motions (i.e., locomotion, swimming, and grappling) with a simple structure, and easily adapt to dynamic environment. Among them, the magnetic actuators exhibit unique characteristics such as rapid and accurate motion control, biocompatibility, and facile remote controllability, which make them promising candidates for the next-generation soft robots. Especially, the magnetic actuators instantly response to the stimuli, and show no-hysteresis during the recovery process, essential for continuous motion control. Here, we present the state-of-the-art fabrication process of magnetically controllable nano-/micro-composites, magnetically aligning process of the composites, and 1-dimensional/multi-dimensional multimodal motion control for the nextgeneration soft actuators.

• Composites Research
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• 제35권6호
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• pp.378-393
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• 2022

마찰전기 나노발전기(이하 TENG)의 새로운 발전 기술은 에너지 수집 및 자가 전력 공급 감지 응용 분야의 긍정적 전망으로 인해 점점 더 많은 관심을 받고 있다. 또한 최근 소프트로봇의 부상은 플렉시블과 소프트센서, 액추에이터 개발에 대한 폭넓은 관심을 불러 일으키고 있다. TENG는 액추에이터와 자가 전력 공급 센서를 구동하는 유망한 전원으로 간주되어 소프트웨어 로봇, 소프트 센서 및 액추에이터 개발을 위한 독창적인 방법을 제공한다. 이 리뷰에서는 TENG를 기반으로 다양한 형태와 기능을 가진 소프트웨어 로봇을 소개하려 한다. 그 중 자연계의 구조, 표면 형태, 재료 특성과 센싱/발전 메커니즘을 모방한 바이오닉 소프트 로봇의 설계는 TENG 성능 향상에 큰 도움이 되었다. 또한 다양한 바이오닉 소프트 로봇은 TENG의 간단한 구조, 자체 전력 공급 특성 및 조정 가능한 출력으로 인해 이전 구동 방식보다 향상되었다. 그리하여 이 리뷰에서는 TENG가 활성화한 소프트 로봇 응용의 특정 핵심 영역에서 다양한 연구를 종합적으로 검토하려 한다. 리뷰를 요약하자면 먼저 최근 개발된 다양한 TENG 기반 소프트웨어 로봇을 정리하고 다양한 장비 구조, 표면 형태 및 자연적으로 영감을 받은 재료를 비교 분석하여 그에 따른 TENG 성능 개선을 수행한다. 자연계에 사용되는 다양한 유비쿼터스 감지 원리와 발전 메커니즘 및 유사한 인공 TENG 설계가 확인되었고 촉각 디스플레이 및 웨어러블 기기, 인공 전자 피부 등의 기기에 TENG를 활성화하는 바이오닉 응용에 대해 논의한다. 마지막으로 TENG 기반 센서 및 구동 장비의 로봇 실제 적용에 대한 발전 기회, 도전 및 미래 전망을 분석한다.

• 로봇학회논문지
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.35-40
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• 2021

As the robot industry develops, industrial automation uses industrial robots in many parts of the manufacturing industry. However, rigidity-based conventional robots have a disadvantage in that they are challenging to use in environments where they grab fragile objects or interact with people because of their high rigidity. Therefore, researches on soft robot have been actively conducted. The soft robot can hold or manipulate fragile objects by using its compliance and has high safety even in an atypical environment with human interaction. However, these advantages are difficult to use in dynamic situations and control by the material's nonlinear behavior. However, for the soft robot to be used in the industry, control is essential. Therefore, in this paper, real-time PD control is applied, and the behavior of the soft actuator is analyzed by providing various waveforms as inputs. Also, Iterative learning control (ILC) is applied to reduce errors and select an ILC type suitable for soft actuators.

• 공업화학
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.347-356
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• 2023

액정 엘라스토머 섬유는 1차원 형태로서 소프트 로봇, 생체모방 구동기 등의 다양한 분야에서 광범위하게 응용되고 있다. 액정 엘라스토머는 액체의 유동성과 고체의 질서도 그리고 고무의 탄성을 포함하며 이를 바탕으로 한 자극-응답성을 가지고 있다. 특히, 형상가변 측면에서 열, 빛, 전기장, 자기장 등의 다양한 자극에 대한 응답성을 프로그래밍하여 사용하면 높은 자유도와 더불어 물건 들어올리기, 꼬임, 회전 등 다양한 움직임을 구현할 수 있다. 따라서, 액정 엘라스토머 섬유는 인공근육, 소프트로봇, 웨어러블 기술, 센싱 기술 등 다양한 분야로의 응용가능성을 가지고 있다. 이런 액정 엘라스토머 섬유의 연구는 기존 단순 섬유를 넘어서는 다양한 기능성을 포함할 수 있는 스마트 소재로서 도래한 4차 산업에서 다양한 분야에 활용도가 높다고 평가된다. 본 총설에서는 액정 엘라스토머 섬유의 구조 및 기본 특성에 대해 소개하고, 배향 기반 제작법과 이를 이용한 인공근육, 스마트 패브릭, 소프트 로봇 등, 다양한 응용에 대해 최신 연구 동향을 소개한다.

• 대한전자공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한전자공학회 2003년도 하계종합학술대회 논문집 V
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• pp.2717-2720
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• 2003

A mathematical framework for deriving acceleration bounds from given joint torque limits of two cooperating robots are described in this paper. Especially when the torque limits are given in 2-norm, the resultant geometrical configuration is ellipsoid(the ellipsoid is often called manipulability ellipsoid in many works). At first, the mathematical derivation starts from the dynamics of both object and robots as well as the kinematics of the robots, and is finally arranged in a form of equation relating joint torques to object acceleration through a complete constraint contact(or “very-soft contact”). To show the usefulness of the proposed method, two examples are included, and especially the case where friction effects the ellipsoid shape is also considered In the example.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 제어로봇시스템학회 2003년도 ICCAS
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• pp.2693-2695
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• 2003

Recent advancement in technology raises fundamental questions: "what is right technology for human?", "how can we build machines for human welfare?" Interactive technology and soft engineering deals with these problems. Personal robotics for the elderly seems to be a major area in which to explore these ideas. We can start by asking "what are inhumane human conditions to be resolved by technology?" Issues lain robotics for the elderly are described and desirable roles for the robots in such applications are presented. Interdisciplinary science approach is proposed to successfully implement this technology for the elderly.