Digital Fabrication of Soft Actuated Objects by Machine Knitting

Abstract

With recent interest in shape-changing interfaces, material-driven design, wearable technologies, and soft robotics, digital fabrication of soft actuatable material is increasingly in demand. Much of this research focuses on elastomers or non-stretchy air bladders. In this work, we explore a series of design strategies for machine knitting actuated soft objects by integrating tendons with shaping and anisotropic texture design.