Variable Curvature

Variable curvature research explores the design and control of systems exhibiting continuously adjustable bending profiles, mimicking the flexibility of biological structures like elephant trunks. Current efforts focus on developing robust mathematical models, such as Cosserat rod theory and finite element analysis, to accurately predict and control the behavior of these systems, often employing granular jamming for stiffness modulation. This work is significant for advancing soft robotics, enabling more adaptable and dexterous robots for applications like manipulation in constrained environments, and also informs the development of improved graph neural networks by leveraging variable curvature embedding spaces to address information loss during processing.