Pneumatics in Robots

By: Jeff, Will, and Madison

Mckibben Air Muscle

Pneumatic Actuator
ORIGINALLY
INVENTED FOR USE
IN ORTHOTICS

An Orthotic is an externally applied device used to

modify the structural and functional characteristics
of the neuromuscular and skeletal system
McKibben artificial Muscle used in
orthotics

•Developed in the 1950’s, the

air muscle inflates like a
balloon.
•The inflation of the bladder
causes its width to expand
pulling the two ends closer to
each other, contracting in the
same way that a human
muscle works.
• The flexible helical weave
cover of the bladder is what
caries the load of the muscle.
Air pressure
can be used
to move a
hydraulic
fluid within
the muscle
Many small McKibben
• These 16 small muscles are able to
Muscles can be strung generate 5.62 pounds of force at only
together to move heavier 36.26 PSI
objects at very low air
pressures
Modern versions
of the McKibben
muscle string
together many
tendons to make
entire muscle
groups, working
100’s of small
diameter
muscles at very
low pressures
 • Soft, pliable
materials
• Fairly simple and
Reliable
• Easy to control and
limit actuator force

• Air muscles can lose

strength over time due
Advantages and •
to stretching
Air leaks can be
difficult to pinpoint
Disadvantages • Can be complex
FESTO

Bionic Handling
Assistant
&
BionicSoftArm 
 Bionic Handling Assistant

• DESIGNED TO
MIMIC AN
ELEPHANT'S
TRUNK
• 3 SECTIONS OF
3 POLYAMIDE
BELLOWS
• HAND AXIS
WITH 3
BELLOWS
3 POLYAMIDE •
•
EXTENDS ARM LINEARLY BY ACTIVATING ALL 3 BELLOWS IN UNISON
ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT IS ACHIEVED BY ACTIVATING JUST ONE OR
BELLOWS  •
TWO BELLOWS
BELLOW RETURN TO STARTING POSSITION WHEN EXHAUSED/SPRING
SECTIONS LIKE
 • Similar to Bionic
handling Assistant
•
BionicSoftArm Can be used in
conjunction with Mate
exoskeleton
•
& Hand •
Multiple different
attachments
Integrated with artificial
intelligence
BionicSoftArm
in
action
 BionicSoftHand

• Self-
contained pneumatic
controls
• Sensitive and strong
 BionicSoftHand

Octopus Gripper

Pick your gripper

Adaptive Gripper
Fluid Power
Gives Robot
Arms All The
Right Moves
• This machine was made using hydraulics and
pneumatics
 WILLIAM CONKLIN'S
WORKS CITED
Works Cited Works Cited
“Servopneumatics Lets Greenfield, David. "Combining
Robot Mimic Pneumatics with Artificial
Nature.” Hydraulics & Intelligence." Automation
Pneumatics, vol. 63, no. World, 2019. ProQuest,
10, Oct. 2010, pp. 30– https://ezproxy.ccs.spokane.edu
/login?url=https://www-proque
33. EBSCOhost, search- st-com.ezproxy.ccs.spokane.edu
ebscohost- /trade-journals/combining-pne
com.ezproxy.ccs.spokane. umatics-with-artificial-intelligen
edu/login.aspx? ce/docview/2205508137/se-2?
accountid=1587
direct=true&AuthType=ip,s .
hib&db=p6h&AN=5457621
3&site=ehost-
live&scope=site.
 Jeff Johns works cited

• Author- B. Tondu
• Title- "Modeling of the McKibben Air Muscle: a Review"
• Source- Journal of intelligent material system and structures, vol. 23, pg 225-253
• Author- Shunichi Kurumaya
• Title- "Small Diameter Air Muscles"
• Source- Robomech Journal 3(1), Sept. 2016
• Author- E.T. Roche
• Title- "A Bioinspired Soft Actuated Material"
• Source- Advanced Materials, vol. 26 #8, pg 1200-1206, 2014
 Madison Kelley’s Works Cited

• https://www.hydraulicspneumatics.com/news
/article/21886588/fluid-power-gives-robot-ar
ms-all-the-right-moves
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY4bfnH
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