Distributed Sensor Networks Deployed by Soft Growing Robots

Stanford engineers have prototyped and tested a flexible, soft growing robot that can deploy sensor networks for investigation in constrained spaces (see video below). Existing sensors for growing robots have focused on moving with the tip of the robot. This method uses flexible printed circuit board (fPCB) technology to create modular bands of sensors that are distributed along the robot, for continuous monitoring of the immediate environment. fPCB technology is a versatile platform for many types of measurements. Currently, the prototype sensor modules include temperature, humidity, acceleration, and orientation. This work advances the capabilities of soft growing robots, as well as the field of soft robot sensing.
Video

Video Credit-inventors

Stage of Development:
Prototype tested