PneuBots Eraikuntza Kit Robotika Bigunerako by Hye Jun Youn

PneuBots Eraikuntza Kit Robotika Bigunerako by Hye Jun Youn is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 Brontzezko Saria A' Design Award in Hezkuntza, Irakaskuntza Laguntza eta Prestakuntza Edukien Diseinua Competition Category.

BrontzeHezkuntza· 2022

PneuBots Eraikuntza Kit Robotika Bigunerako

by Hye Jun Youn

Client: PneuBots

Brontzezko Saria A' Design Award Winner in Hezkuntza Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #137958

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About PneuBots Eraikuntza Kit Robotika Bigunerako

PneuBots ikaskuntza eta sormenezko eraikuntzarako robotika bigun modularreko kit bat da. Kitak zazpi motatako segmentu autotolesgarri, hiru motatako konektore eta banatzaile pneumatiko, eta 200 bider 70 bider 100 milimetro neurtzen dituen kutxa pertsonalizatu bat ditu. Modulu bakoitza PVC filmezko bi geruzaz eginda dago, origami-inspirazioko ereduei jarraituz CNC bidezko fresaketa eta bero-prentsaketa erabiliz itsatsita. Moduluek uzkurtu, kiribildu edo makurtu egiten dute ahozko inflatze balbulen bidez puztuta daudenean. Kitak sarrera-oztopoa murrizten die artista, diseinatzaile, ingeniari eta egileei, robotika bigunean sakondu nahi dutenentzat.

The Recognition

About the Brontzezko Saria A' Design Award

PneuBots Eraikuntza Kit Robotika Bigunerako Brontzezko Saria A' Design Award irabazlea da, sormenak, asmamenak eta zorroztasunak bereizten dituzten diseinu bikainei ematen zaien aitorpen oso prestijiotsua. Brontze-mailako irabazleak trebetasunez beteriko eta nabarmenki sortzaileak diren artefaktuak dira, beren diseinatzaileen esperientzia zabala, irudimena eta ekimena egiaztatzen dutenak. PneuBots Eraikuntza Kit Robotika Bigunerako oso estimatua, miretsia eta maitea den objektua izatea espero da, nabarmenki profesionala eta berritzailea dena. Brontzezko Saria A' Design Award irabazi duen diseinu honek artearen, zientziaren, diseinuaren eta teknologiaren praktika onenak biltzen ditu eta xehetasunei ematen dien arretagatik bikaina da. PneuBots Eraikuntza Kit Robotika Bigunerako beharrak bikain asetzen dituen, desirak ukitzen dituen, sentimenduak xarmatzen dituen eta jakin-mina erakartzen duen lana da.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: PneuBots is a modular soft robotics construction kit consisting of seven types of self-foldable, quasi-inextensible segments, three types of pneumatic connectors and splitters, and a custom-designed box. The kit enables various assemblies to be made with the modular pieces, allowing creators to explore the world of soft robotics in playful ways.
Dimensions & Packaging: Toolkit Box, 200 mm x 70 mm x 100 mm
Tags: Soft Robotics, Construction kit, Pneumatics, Shape changing, Learning, Playful, Design, Art, Interactivity, Education
Production Technology: The modules of PneuBots were developed by a heat-pressing fabrication process, where two layers of PVC film were sandwiched together and then sealed along specific origami-inspired patterns. The CNC-milling plus heat pressing fabrication method achieves an accurate and smooth geometric pattern without wrinkles. Each PneuBots module has between one and five pneumatic ports with oral-inflation-valves. Modules can be connected to each other using three types of pneumatic connectors: Straight-shaped, T-shaped, and Cross-shaped.
Design Challenge: Some feedback from users mentioned the smooth surface of PVC film. Since the inflated modular blocks are slippery, the smooth texture may not be ideal for an interaction with objects with surface. Therefore, to extend PneuBots’ functionality, we are planning to create a layer of cloth such as an auxetic structure to generate friction between modules for more stable mobility. We will also eventually broaden the scope of our work to include more diversity in modular block design, and we are currently gathering data to determine the appropriate number of modular blocks to include in our basic package.
Research: A mixed method comprising of interviews and existing product reviews were used. The initial target user group was consisted of graduate students who are new to this field. Over the course of developing this project, we informally interacted with 20 graduate students from design and engineering background who provided feedback about the behaviors and interactions they want to achieve with soft robotic design concepts, and who also shared some of the barriers and obstacles that prevented them from realizing their goals.
Inspiration: Soft robotics is an emerging field with a very high potential for impact, which is also of strong interest to the Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and Haptic communities. Yet the barriers to entry for most makers are still very high, and they are even greater for those who come from nontechnical backgrounds. A constructive assembly kit in combination with carefully curated informational resources could significantly reduce the barrier to entry.
Project Duration: The project started in June 2021 in Korea and finished in January 2022 in the US.
Operation Flow: Seven PneuBots modules with different actuation patterns including shrinking, curling and bending were designed. There are three working shapes: line, diagonal, and diamond. A linear seam with a 5mm gap in the middle results in a shrinking mechanism. The diamond shape-hinge serves as the bending angle control. The diagonal line with a 5mm gap serves as the curling control. PneuBots allows seamless programmability of the different assemblies, enabling artists, designers, engineers, and makers to create dynamic, shape-changing, and interactive works that can be used for education, storytelling, and dynamic art.
Team Members: Hye Jun Youn, Ali Shtarbanov and Jooyoung Youn