Development of a Venus flytrap-inspired robotic flytrap

Shi, Liwei; Guo, Shuxiang; Kudo, Hiroki; Asaka, Kinji

doi:10.1109/robio.2012.6491024

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Figure 3 shows the experimentally recorded tip-bending force of the actuator for different voltages. The experimental results indicate that the tip-bending force increases as the driving voltage increases [30]. …”

Section: Ipmc Actuatorsmentioning

confidence: 89%

A Multifunctional Underwater Biomimetic Microrobot

Guo

Shi

2015

Springer Tracts in Mechanical Engineering

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Robots play an important role in underwater monitoring and recovery operations, such as pollution detection, submarine sampling and data collection, video mapping, and object recovery in dangerous places. However, regular-sized robots may not be suitable for applications in some restricted underwater environments. Accordingly, in previous research we designed several novel types of bio-inspired microrobots, using ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) and shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators. These microrobots possess some of the attributes of compact structure, multifunctionality, flexibility, and precise positioning. However, they lack the attributes of long endurance, stable high speed, and large load capacity necessary for real-world applications. To overcome these disadvantages, we propose a mother-son robot system, composed of several microrobots as sons and a newly designed amphibious spherical robot as the mother. In this system, the mother robot is actuated by four water-jet propellers and eight servomotors, capable of providing stable high speed and carrying the microrobots to the desired target location where tasks are to be performed. Generally speaking, compact structure, multifunctionality, and precise positioning are considered incompatible characteristics for underwater microrobots. To realize the necessary multifunctionality for adapting to complex underwater environments, we introduce a walking biomimetic microrobot with two kinds of motion attitudes: a lying state and a standing state. The microrobot uses eleven IPMC actuators to move and two SMA actuators to change its motion attitude. In the lying state, the microrobot implements stickinsect-inspired walking/rotating motion, fishlike swimming motion, horizontal grasping motion, and floating motion. In the standing state, it implements inchworm-inspired crawling motion in two horizontal directions and grasping motion in the vertical direction. We constructed a prototype of this biomimetic microrobot and evaluated its walking, rotating, and floating speeds experimentally. The experimental results indicated that the robot could attain a maximum walking speed of 3.6 mm/s, a maximum rotational speed of 9°/s, and a maximum floating speed of 7.14 mm/s. Obstacle-avoidance and swimming experiments were also carried out to demonstrate its multifunctionality.

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Section: Ipmc Actuatorsmentioning

confidence: 89%

A Multifunctional Underwater Biomimetic Microrobot

Guo

Shi

2015

Springer Tracts in Mechanical Engineering

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“…In using smart materials as a base material, AVFT system lobes have been developed that directly react to a stimulus with movement; in the case of the following examples of electroactive polymers as actuators, the stimulus is electrically based. One smart material type used to create artificial traps is a substance composed of ionic electroactive polymer metal composites (IPMCs) ( Figure 3C ) (Shahinpoor, 2011 ; Shi et al, 2012 ). The multilayer material performs bending movements when exposed to an electric field.…”

Section: Characteristics Of the Avft Systems (Actuation Design And mentioning

confidence: 99%

“… Sketches of the AVFTs are all originals based on the concepts presented in mentioned references . References: [1] Forterre et al ( 2005 ), [2] Jaffe ( 1973 ), [3] Zhang et al ( 2019 ), [4] Zhang et al ( 2016 ) [5] Kim et al ( 2014 ), [6] Shahinpoor ( 2011 ), [7] Shi et al ( 2012 ), [8] Wang et al ( 2019 ), [9] Lunni et al ( 2020 ), [10] Fan et al ( 2019 ), [11] Lee et al ( 2010 ), [12] Pal et al ( 2019 ), [13] Wani et al ( 2017 ), [14] Lim et al ( 2017 ) . …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Artificial Venus Flytraps: A Research Review and Outlook on Their Importance for Novel Bioinspired Materials Systems

2020

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Bioinspired and biomimetic soft machines rely on functions and working principles that have been abstracted from biology but that have evolved over 3.5 billion years. So far, few examples from the huge pool of natural models have been examined and transferred to technical applications. Like living organisms, subsequent generations of soft machines will autonomously respond, sense, and adapt to the environment. Plants as concept generators remain relatively unexplored in biomimetic approaches to robotics and related technologies, despite being able to grow, and continuously adapt in response to environmental stimuli. In this research review, we highlight recent developments in plant-inspired soft machine systems based on movement principles. We focus on inspirations taken from fast active movements in the carnivorous Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) and compare current developments in artificial Venus flytraps with their biological role model. The advantages and disadvantages of current systems are also analyzed and discussed, and a new state-of-the-art autonomous system is derived. Incorporation of the basic structural and functional principles of the Venus flytrap into novel autonomous applications in the field of robotics not only will inspire further plant-inspired biomimetic developments but might also advance contemporary plant-inspired robots, leading to fully autonomous systems utilizing bioinspired working concepts.

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“…However, artificial Venus flytraps have so far been produced more as a by-product of the development of new actuation systems. AVFs have been used as suitable demonstrators of the capabilities of actuators in the development of novel pneumatic systems utilizing instabilities in elastic energy storage [ 14 ], magnetically driven bi-stable prepregs [ 15 , 16 ], ionic electroactive polymer metal composites (IPMCs) [ 17 , 18 ], light responsive liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) [ 19 , 20 ], and hygroscopic bistable systems (HBS) reacting to changes in humidity [ 21 ]. However, none of these AVF systems incorporates all the functions of the biological model D. muscipula .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel Motion Sequences in Plant-Inspired Robotics: Combining Inspirations from Snap-Trapping in Two Plant Species into an Artificial Venus Flytrap Demonstrator

et al. 2022

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The field of plant-inspired robotics is based on principles underlying the movements and attachment and adaptability strategies of plants, which together with their materials systems serve as concept generators. The transference of the functions and underlying structural principles of plants thus enables the development of novel life-like technical materials systems. For example, principles involved in the hinge-less movements of carnivorous snap-trap plants and climbing plants can be used in technical applications. A combination of the snap-trap motion of two plant species (Aldrovanda vesiculosa and Dionaea muscipula) has led to the creation of a novel motion sequence for plant-inspired robotics in an artificial Venus flytrap system, the Venus Flyflap. The novel motion pattern of Venus Flyflap lobes has been characterized by using four state-of-the-art actuation systems. A kinematic analysis of the individual phases of the new motion cycle has been performed by utilizing precise pneumatic actuation. Contactless magnetic actuation augments lobe motion into energy-efficient resonance-like oscillatory motion. The use of environmentally driven actuator materials has allowed autonomous motion generation via changes in environmental conditions. Measurement of the energy required for the differently actuated movements has shown that the Venus Flyflap is not only faster than the biological models in its closing movement, but also requires less energy in certain cases for the execution of this movement.

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Development of a Venus flytrap-inspired robotic flytrap

Cited by 12 publications

References 6 publications

A Multifunctional Underwater Biomimetic Microrobot

A Multifunctional Underwater Biomimetic Microrobot

Artificial Venus Flytraps: A Research Review and Outlook on Their Importance for Novel Bioinspired Materials Systems

Novel Motion Sequences in Plant-Inspired Robotics: Combining Inspirations from Snap-Trapping in Two Plant Species into an Artificial Venus Flytrap Demonstrator

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