Agile Robot Mimics the Głide of a Soaring Manta Ray
WPI Team Wins Second Category in Soft Robotics Design Competition
The Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) team has clinched the second category in the prestigious Soft Robotics Design Competition. The team's achievement was marked by their creation of a robotic manta ray, a testament to their engineering prowess and innovative spirit.
The robotic manta ray was designed to mimic one of the ocean's most efficient swimmers. The team's goal was to achieve a 35-degree flex for the wings, but they exceeded this with a 60-degree flex, showcasing the robot's remarkable flexibility.
The team's journey to this victory began with the 2016 edition of the competition, where Gabrielle Franzini and her team won the collegiate division with their initial robotic manta ray. Franzini, an engineer who developed a passion for engineering after winning third place in her state science fair, played a pivotal role in the team's success.
The design process was not without its challenges. The team's original hull caused significant trouble during the manufacturing process, resulting in multiple leaks that couldn't be sealed. To overcome this, the team had to prioritize the function of the hull over its hydrodynamic form, and settled on a simple acrylic box to house the components and support the fins.
The team's choice of actuator was the PneuNets, a pneumatic networks system of chambers inside the structure. Gabrielle Franzini had prior experience with this actuator through her work with SOLIDWORKS CAD. The robotic manta ray also featured a pump, valves, and a low-power microcontroller.
To predict the bending of the silicone, the team used simulations in SOLIDWORKS. This meticulous approach allowed them to fine-tune the design and ensure the robot's performance.
The biggest challenge was giving the ray's articulated enough support while maintaining flexibility. This was a delicate balance that the team managed to achieve, resulting in a robotic manta ray that glides gracefully, just like its biological counterpart.
The team's full report can be found on Soft Robotics Toolkit's website, providing a detailed account of their design process and the lessons they learned along the way. This victory is a testament to the team's hard work, innovation, and perseverance, and serves as an inspiration for future participants in the Soft Robotics Design Competition.
Science and innovation in robotics have been showcased once again, as the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) team, driven by the engineering prowess and innovative spirit of a dedicated team member who found her passion in science, designed a robotic manta ray that defeated competitors in the Soft Robotics Design Competition. The team's victory was earned through the application of technology and science, particularly in the use of pneumatic networks, SOLIDWORKS simulations, and low-power microcontrollers.
