Preliminary experimental study on variable stiffness structures based on fiber jamming for soft robots

Abstract

Soft robotics opened a new set of technological challenges in using soft materials to build robots. The ability of change stiffness is among the most important, because it enables the possibility to tune forces exchanged with the environment. Granular and layer jamming transition have already demonstrated to be a promising approach for developing variable stiffness structures, but no studies have been dedicated to specifically fiber jamming so far. In this paper, we report a preliminary comparative study on fiber jamming applied to cylindrical structures. Fibers of different materials have been used as filler and tested under bending conditions. The results show that up to 380% of stiffness increase can be achieved, in line with data collected on similar devices that use granular jamming. The role of the main mechanical and geometrical parameters have been discussed: elastic properties are fundamental, but optimal performance can be achieved only with ordered arrangements of the fibers; geometrical features seem secondary, but surface roughness has an important role in preventing sliding. This is a preliminary study, but it already defines a first set of guidelines that can help and promote future works on the development and integration of the fiber jamming in soft systems.