Soft Robotic

Soft robotics focuses on creating robots with compliant bodies, often using flexible materials and actuators, to achieve dexterity and adaptability exceeding that of rigid robots. Current research emphasizes developing robust control algorithms, including neural networks and data-driven methods like Automatic Neural ODE Control (ANODEC), to manage the complex, nonlinear dynamics of these systems, and creating modular hardware platforms for efficient data collection and experimentation. This field is significant for its potential applications in minimally invasive surgery, human-robot interaction, and challenging environments like pipeline inspection, where adaptability and safety are paramount.