Developments and Trend Maps for Soft Continuum Manipulators and Soft Snake Robots

Soft robots are more human-friendly than rigid-bodied robots. This is because they are light in weight, compliant in nature, safer during human interaction, and efficient in locomotion. They have good impact resistance and can access confined spaces due to their soft nature.

This monograph focuses on soft robots, and in particular, provides an overview of developments and trend maps for soft continuum manipulators (SCM) and soft snake robots (SSR). Although they are functionally different, they are structurally similar in appearance. The way the robot is modelled, the materials it is made up of, and the various manufacturing methods for the soft continuum robots (SCR) are presented.

Soft sensors and soft actuators used for these SCRs are discussed, and thereafter the manipulation and locomotion of these SCRs are presented. The trend map for the SCM and SSR are laid out and described in detail.

The work provides readers with an introduction to the soft continuum world and gives an overview of the future of SCM and SSR.