soft robotics

Researchers at the Technical University of Munich have developed a soft robotic exosuit that assists older adults with standing up and walking. In a study, 10 participants completed sit-to-stand movements faster while wearing the suit, which supports the body with fabric-based actuators rather than a rigid frame. The work points to assistive robotics that could help seniors stay mobile and independent in daily life.

Researchers have developed a wind-up elastic robot that can keep jumping continuously when supplied with infrared light. The material converts the light into heat, re-tensioning its elastic body so the hopping cycle repeats without batteries or manual rewinding. The demonstration is drawing attention as a possible route to small, untethered soft robots for exploration or search tasks.

A Fast Company feature examines work at ETH Zurich's Soft Robotics Lab, connecting the fictional character Thing—the disembodied hand from 'The Addams Family'—to advances in robotic hand technology. The lab's research into soft, flexible robotic hands is presented as a step toward dexterous machines inspired by the famous fictional hand.