Simple Control Method for Soft Vine Robots

Stanford scientists have developed a simple control method for soft, tip-extending pneumatic "vine robots", soft robots that grow by turning themselves inside-out (everting) to move through tight or cluttered spaces. These vine robots navigate cluttered and confined environments and are designed for applications such as search and rescue, exploration, and industrial inspection, where flexibility and adaptability are essential.

A major challenge in vine robot design is achieving good movement control without making the robot bulky or stiff. Typically, each movement control (or actuator) requires its own power line. Adding more actuators improves maneuverability, but each added power line increases weight and makes the robot harder to move. Reducing the number of power lines, therefore, becomes essential, since it lowers stiffness, weight, and complexity and allows the robot to navigate cluttered or constrained environments more easily.

To solve these challenges, Stanford researchers created a simpler and lighter way to control the robot's movements. Their new design lets the robot move in many directions while using only 1-2 power lines. Small built-in valves help the robot choose which parts to move, making it more flexible, easier to control, and better at navigating tight or complex spaces. This advancement enables vine robots to operate in tighter, more hazardous, or more confined environments than before, allowing for faster deployment, reduced hardware complexity, and broader use in real-world applications where traditional robots cannot maneuver effectively.

Stage of Development
Proof of concept has been demonstrated, prototype for pneumatic portion complete

Related Technologies
S15-383 Soft robotic device capable of growth
S19-299 New 'Soft' Robot: Shape-Changing and Versatile
S19-431 Device to retract soft growing robots
S20-498 Distributed Sensor Networks Deployed by Soft Growing Robots