2004 – OctArm – Christopher Rahn et al (American)

Penn State Research Team Develops OctArm Soft Robot Manipulator Recent interest in expanding the capabilities of robot manipulators has led to significant research in continuum manipulators. The idea behind these robots is to replace the serial chain of rigid links in conventional manipulators with smooth, continuous, and flexible links. Unlike traditional rigid-linked robots, continuum robot …

2011 – “Ant-Roach” – Otherlab (American)

Here is the Otherlab’s 15 foot inflatable walking robot, the Ant-Roach.  We thought this conceptual elephant looked more like a cross between an anteater and a cockroach.  The goal of building the Ant-Roach was to demonstrate the carrying capacity and high strength-to-weight ratios possible with inflatable structures. Comments November 21, 2011 by Travis Deyle of …

2011 – Inflatable Robot Arm and Hand – Otherlab (American)

Otherlab's prototype articulated inflatable robot arm,  is apparently able to lift a person with 50-60 psi even though it weighs only 2 pounds. All pictures and captions sourced from Otherlabs webpage unless noted otherwise. See Otherlabs webpage and other videos here. See other Pneumatic, Fluidic, and Inflatable robots here.

2010 – Soft Arm – Siddharth Sanan (Otherlab)

Siddharth Sanand: is doing his PhD at the Robotics Institute at CMU. He is interested in making robots soft and safe to enable physical human robot interaction. On the other side, he has been sewing together various ideas on inflatable robots and actuators.  Recently interned at Otherlab. All pictures and captions sourced from Otherlabs webpage …

2011 – Inflatable Walking Elephant – Otherlab (Saul Griffith)

Pneubot stands for "pneumatic robot", or a robot that is actuated by pneumatic technology. A pneumatic technology involves the use of compressed air to drive mechanical motion. The compressed air can be moved through soft, balloon-like tubes, which allows for both rigidity (when filled) and flexibility (when decompressed or empty). In this video, an elephant-shaped …