The Impact of Soft Robotics on Industrial Applications

Original | Wen BFT robot 

Soft robots mimic the movement and actions of living organisms, making them highly versatile and fascinating.

The field of soft robotics is developing rapidly. It is designed to create flexible devices for a variety of industries, including healthcare, space exploration, food production, geography, logistics, rehabilitation, defense and home applications.

Soft robots are unique in that they are constructed using adaptable materials that are lightweight and versatile. These robots have impressive properties such as high elasticity, deformability and the ability to absorb energy, allowing them to recover quickly from physical shock or deformation. Therefore, soft robots have great potential in various research efforts and industrial applications.

Soft robotic exploration is especially valuable when traditional human intervention is insufficient or inefficient. Through the use of soft robotics in industry, we can achieve the full automation of cost-effective production of goods, thus boosting the global economy. Soft robots are expected to become indispensable tools capable of performing various tasks in different industrial sectors. This article provides an overview of future industrial applications of soft robotics, while addressing challenges and providing insights into their prospects.

01

industrial application

One of the most important areas where soft robotics has great potential is healthcare. They can be used in surgery, pain relief devices, and even as artificial muscles. Soft robots are particularly valuable in microsurgery for in vivo manipulation. These microrobots can be drug carriers for targeted therapies, especially cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Their safe interaction with the human body makes them ideal tools for surgery and other healthcare applications. Soft robots known as prosthetic robots could also help repair or replace damaged muscles and body parts. In addition, soft robots have the potential to save lives by assisting with heart pumping and even acting as artificial hearts for heart failure patients.

The aerospace and research industry is another important industry with growing demand for soft robotics. Advanced aircraft carriers are necessary for cost-effective space travel, and the unpredictable space environment requires robots that can quickly adapt to changing conditions.

Soft robots could simplify aircraft inspections (pre-flight inspections) and reduce maintenance and repair time. Boeing plans to build planes that can fly autonomously using soft robots. Additionally, soft robots could be used in various airport ground services, such as passenger assistance and housekeeping. KLM, for example, has tested a soft robot at the airport to guide passengers.

The food and agriculture industry also has a huge demand for automation through robots. Soft robots can contribute to large-scale crop production and management, reducing costs. This is especially important given that farmers use toxic pesticides, which sometimes cause health problems for consumers.

In this regard, soft robots can serve as a viable solution. Given the scarcity of labor in the agricultural sector, automated farm implements and soft robots could ease the challenges faced by farmers, who often work in harsh conditions and odd hours. Additionally, soft robots can assist in packaging and managing the vast amount of food material produced in the agricultural sector.

Due to the harsh working conditions, soft robots are urgently needed in the energy industry. As the future moves toward atomic and nuclear power, soft robots could operate continuously in environments exposed to nuclear radiation. This makes them ideal candidates for tasks that generate atomic and nuclear energy. The defense sector also offers valuable applications for soft robotics.

When soldiers need to crawl or operate heavy equipment in dangerous conditions, soft robots can efficiently perform these tasks. In addition, soft robots can be used in battle damage control, aerial refueling, electronic warfare, minelaying and other defense-related activities.

The automotive industry stands out as a major user of soft robots because modern rigid robots have limitations that soft robots can address. Soft robots are useful when assembling various parts during manufacturing. They can also be used for material movement, part inspection, painting and more.

For example, the Mercedes Vision AVTR integrates a soft robot to assist the driver in communicating with the environment. Soft robots are also valuable in developing fully autonomous cars, trains and other vehicles.

Due to their controlled motion, soft robots have a wide range of applications in the entertainment, edutainment and toy industries. They can engage in activities and engage kids while providing educational content. Soft robots can be used to create a variety of attractive toys that bring joy to children. In addition, soft robots have practical uses in industries involving the production of explosives and in tasks such as arc welding, spot welding, machine management, painting, picking, mechanical cutting, gluing and gluing.

02

Challenges and Future Prospects

The potential applications of soft robotics in various industries are enormous, but several challenges must be addressed. These challenges include improving their operating efficiency, enhancing autonomy, optimizing manufacturing processes, enabling precise drives, and developing methods for continuous power generation. Designing soft robots that can perform efficiently in a variety of industrial settings is of paramount importance. This requires the use of advanced materials and sophisticated simulation techniques to create optimal designs and structures for specific tasks. Combining artificial intelligence with the physical embodiment of robots, combined with morphological computing, holds promise for addressing these challenges.

Given global economic pressures and demand for affordable goods, industry automation using soft robotics can help reduce production costs. With this in mind, there is an ongoing need to develop self-powered, soft-assisted, and autonomous robots in the future. Therefore, the future prospects of soft robots in industrial applications look very promising.

03

futures market

The future market outlook for soft robotics is very positive and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 37% from 2019 to 2024. This growth is driven by the ongoing efforts of researchers and technocrats working to advance soft robotics to meet the specific needs of various industries. Continuous innovations and developments in this field have greatly enhanced the potential for substantial expansion of the soft robotics market.

Major industry players such as Walmart, Amazon, Costco, etc. are recognizing the value of soft robotics in warehouse management and operations, further driving the demand for these versatile machines. Essentially, the demand for soft robots is expected to grow in all aspects of life, thereby contributing to the overall expansion of the market.

04

in conclusion

Soft robotics are gaining importance in various industrial applications, offering opportunities for cost-effective production methods. The use of soft robots has the potential to boost the global economy. Industries such as healthcare, aviation, space exploration, agriculture, food production, logistics, rehabilitation, defense, food and beverage, and the home are of particular interest in the advantages of soft robotics.

Many companies are actively developing efficient soft robots to meet the needs of these industries. However, developing fully functional soft robots that can address a wide range of applications is an ongoing process that requires continuous efforts and technological advancements.

The future of industrial robots looks very promising. As soft robots become more common, the cost of producing a variety of goods is expected to fall, making the global economy stronger. The potential of soft robotics to revolutionize industrial processes and improve efficiency is a driving force behind their growing popularity.

Article source :

https://roboticsbiz.com/impact-of-soft-robots-on-industrial-applications/

 

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