IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-025-59051-3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Shape morphing of soft robotics by pneumatic torsion strip braiding

Author

Listed:
  • Changchun Wu

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Hao Liu

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Senyuan Lin

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • James Lam

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Ning Xi

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Yonghua Chen

    (The University of Hong Kong)

Abstract

Shape morphing technologies are significant in soft robotic applications. To this end, we introduce a new shape morphing approach using pneumatic torsion strips, inspired by the shape of a Möbius strip. A pneumatic torsion strip is simply formed by bending and twisting a ribbon of bladder. When locating a pneumatic torsion strip on a braided soft body, its intrinsic elastic energy always tends to bend the soft body. Meanwhile, its elastic energy is adjustable and correlated with the geometry and internal-pressure dependent material properties. Compared with common strain-mismatch based morphing methods, pneumatic torsion strips directly exert bending torque to the soft body without generating in-plane strain and affecting rigidity. As such, the local bending of a soft body over a large curvature range at almost any position can be realized through pneumatic torsion strips. A mathematical model describing the geometry and elastic energy of a pneumatic torsion strip is also established to explain its basic shape morphing mechanism. Finally, we provide several case studies to illustrate their performance and advantages in practical shape morphing applications, such as a 2 kg meter-scale transformable carpet that can curl like plant tendrils.

Suggested Citation

  • Changchun Wu & Hao Liu & Senyuan Lin & James Lam & Ning Xi & Yonghua Chen, 2025. "Shape morphing of soft robotics by pneumatic torsion strip braiding," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59051-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59051-3
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59051-3
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-025-59051-3?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59051-3. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.