Increasing Payload Capacity of a Continuum Soft Robot Using Bio-Inspired Ossicle Reinforcement

Abstract

Soft continuum robots, characterized by their dexterous and compliant nature, often face limitations due to buckling under small loads. This study explores the enhancement of axial performance in soft robots intrinsically actuated with extensile fluidic artificial muscles (EFAMs) through the incorporation of bio-inspired radial supports, or ossicles. By conducting quasi-static force response experiments under varying pressure conditions (103.4–517.1 kPa), and a modified Euler column buckling model, we demonstrate that ossicles significantly increase the robots’ resistance to buckling, thereby extending their application scope in payload-carrying tasks. These findings not only underscore the effectiveness of ossicle reinforcement in improving structural robustness but also pave the way for future research to optimize soft robot design for enhanced performance.