Soft materials and actuators enable applications that are not possible using traditional rigid robots and actuators. Owing to their flexibility and compliance, soft actuators can adapt to complex and ...

Camouflage is an important survival technique used by many animals in the wild. To this end, some animals have evolved the capability to change their overall appearance (color and shape) for signaling ...

Air springs are rubber/fabric bellows that support and contain a column of compressed air. These single-acting pneumatic actuators have been used for more than 50 years across wide-ranging ...

Actuators with built-in encoders and precision guidance enable position, speed and force adjustments on-the-fly without mechanical reconfiguration or production delays. Integrated diagnostics monitor ...

Inexpensive robots of all forms are on the rise. Meka uses compliant actuators called series elastic actuators (SEAs) in nearly all joints of its robotic systems. A spring between motor and load ...