Manufacturing soft devices out of sheet materials

This invention describes a way to build flexible, inflatable devices, like soft robot grippers, by stacking and bonding several thin sheets together. It involves placing a stretchy rubber-like layer between two stiffer layers that control how it expands. When these layers are sealed around the edges, they form a pocket that can be inflated with fluid, causing the device to bend or move. Specific cutouts in the stiffer outer layers guide this movement to achieve desired actions.

Why it matters: Filed before widespread multi-material 3D printing. Complex layered soft actuators with integrated features are now easier to fabricate.

Status: Not in forceListed as no longer active. The specific reason is not in the record we hold.
How hard to build: ModerateCustom layered materials, precise bonding

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