Recent advances towards soft household robots

Babar Jamil*, Wei David Wang*, Hugo Rodrigue*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Over recent decades, robots have become pervasive in various industries, yet their presence in households remains limited despite the potential benefits they could offer. Household robots could revolutionize domestic tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and assisting individuals with disabilities by performing routine activities and enhancing safety. However, several challenges impede their widespread adoption, including the diversity of household objects, the need for varied skills and high dexterity, and, crucially, ensuring human safety. Soft robots, composed of deformable materials, present a promising solution due to their inherent compliance, which enhances safety and adaptability to dynamic environments, including human interaction. This review paper surveys four types of soft robotic technology for household use: soft robots that are intended for household use, wearable technology for people with physical handicaps, soft robotic arms that can be used to perform household tasks, and soft robotic grippers. We assess the advantages of these technologies, discuss their operational requirements, and identify the technical limitations that need to be addressed for broader consumer adoption. This review highlights the path forward for integrating soft robots into households, emphasizing the need for continued innovation to enhance their performance, controllability, and range of capabilities.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages7
JournalJMST Advances
Early online date25 Oct 2024
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 25 Oct 2024

Cite this