Emergent technologies increasingly leverage the advantage of soft and flexible materials. Integrated soft systems, particularly soft actuators, apply to health and assistive tech, human-object integration, space and deep sea exploration, and more. This course covers concepts from soft innovation history, current state-of-the-art, sister disciplines of bio-inspired and hybrid (soft/hard) robotics paired with hands-on fabrication techniques (silicone casting in 3D printed molds, heat-sealed films, flexing Students start with a short exploration of historical context and current state-of-the art to prevent reinvention of the wheel. Additional domains will be introduced by pairing of high-level concepts to grow-on combined with achievable hands-on fabrication and evaluation techniques: Cable controlled force/Flex and bend cabled structures Pneumatics and inflatables/heat-sealed flat patterned prototypes Embodied complexity/silicone casting in 3D printed molds, Hybrid robotics/Mini Tensegrity structures, Materials suitability/Swatching and collaborative or destructive testing. Final projects can be a soft/flexible/hybrid design concept presented with context, materials swatches with justifications for choices, and physical or modeled proof-of-concept. Mo 12:10-2:40pm (01/22 – 05/07)

ITPG-GT.2125.1 () | Instructor: Kari Love | Mon 12:10pm to 2:40pm | Meeting Pattern: 14 | Start Date