Bloom Umsebenzi Wokubamba Othambileyo WesiRobhothi by Bio-Inspired Robotics Design Lab

Bloom Umsebenzi Wokubamba Othambileyo WesiRobhothi by Bio-Inspired Robotics Design Lab is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 Ibhaso Lentsimbi le-A' Design Award in Uyilo lweRobhotiki, i-Othomathoni kunye ne-Othomeshini Competition Category.

IntsimbiIRobhotiki· 2022

Bloom Umsebenzi Wokubamba Othambileyo WesiRobhothi

by Bio-Inspired Robotics Design Lab

Client: Bio-inspired Robotics & Design Laboratory

Ibhaso Lentsimbi le-A' Design Award Winner in IRobhotiki Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #137335

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The Design

About Bloom Umsebenzi Wokubamba Othambileyo WesiRobhothi

Ubhalo Lweencwadi: I-Bloom sisibambo esithambileyo sesiRobhothi esenzelwe imisebenzi yokuphathwa okuzenzekelayo nokudibanisa izinto. Isibambo siphenjelelwe sisandla somntu kunye nendlela yokuvula okuqhubekayo kweroza yaseFransi (Gallic rose). I-Bloom yenziwe ngesilikoni kwaye ishukumiswa ngamandla omoya. Iinzipho ezirholekayo zivumela ukubamba ngokuchanekileyo izinto ezizacileyo. Amaqabaka afanyekiswayo avumela ukukroba izinto eziyimibumba. Intende ethambileyo iyaguquka ngobubanzi bokuvula ukwenzela izinto ezibanzi. Kusetyenziswa uxinzelelo oluphantsi noluhle ekutshintsheni phakathi kweendlela zokubamba. I-Bloom inokuphatha izinto ezibuthathaka ngokukhuselekileyo kufutshane nabasebenzi babantu.

The Recognition

About the Ibhaso Lentsimbi le-A' Design Award

Bloom Umsebenzi Wokubamba Othambileyo WesiRobhothi ngumphumeleli weIbhaso Lentsimbi le-A' Design Award, ukuqatshelwa okuhlonitshwayo okunikwa imiyilo elungileyo eyanelisa iimfuno zobungcali neemveliso ezilindelekileyo kwimveliso ezicwangciswe kakuhle. Abaphumeleleyo beNtsimbi babonisa ubuchule obukhulu, ubuchule obuphezulu, ukuqonda kwengcali namandla okuyila abayili babo. Bloom Umsebenzi Wokubamba Othambileyo WesiRobhothi iyathenjwa ukuba ibe yimveliso exatyiswa kakhulu, edunyiswayo nethandwayo esebenzayo neyinto entsha. Lo myilo uphumeleleyo weIbhaso Lentsimbi le-A' Design Award udibanisa iindlela ezilungileyo kakhulu zemboleko kwaye unezimpawu zobuchwephesha ezifanelekileyo ezidityaniswe nolwazi netalente. Bloom Umsebenzi Wokubamba Othambileyo WesiRobhothi iyahlonelwa ngenxa yenkcukacha yayo kwaye yacwangciselwa ukunika uphuculo lomgangatho wobomi olunceda ukwenza ihlabathi libe yindawo engcono.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Bloom is a bio-inspired, pneumatically actuated, shape morphing soft robotic gripper that is capable of on-site rapid workspace reconfigurability. It features passive retractable nails, bi-directional foldable petals, and a flexible palm to adapt to various grasping and manipulation tasks. The ability to rapidly reconfigure grasping workspace on-the-fly allows Bloom to perform assembly tasks consisting of highly varying subtasks, a feat previously not possible using conventional rigid or existing soft grippers.
Dimensions & Packaging: 115 x 115 x 152mm
Tags: Soft Robotics, Soft Robots, Bio-Inspired Design, Biomimicry, Robotics, Material Science
Production Technology: Design Optimization using FEA, 3D Printing, Silicone Moulding & Casting
Design Challenge: Consumer goods, logistics, and food industries have been benefiting from robotic intervention to meet evolving demands. In such industries, reliable robotic handling of food rely on versatile gripper interfaces with comprehensive and adaptive capabilities. Compared to traditional rigid grippers, Bloom, a state-of-the-art soft gripper utilizes compliant soft actuators made using functional hyperelastic materials, allowing it to grasp a wider range of geometries safely and reliably.
Research: Silicone and air are both soft materials and are the main components in this soft gripper. Because of this, Bloom is able to interface with soft objects safely and effectively.

Bloom can be used in many circumstances including food preparation and healthcare. Because of its material compliance, it is able to work closely with delicate objects and human coworkers. Thus, narrowing the gap between robots and humans.
Inspiration: A product of the Bio-Inspired Robotics Design (BRD) Lab at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), Bloom was inspired by both the dexterity of the human hand and the intentional cyclic blooming of the Rosa gallica (Gallic Rose). Mimicking the function of the corpus unguis, (human fingernail) Bloom, can grasp objects as thin as 300 microns, large objects as heavy as 1.4kgs, while being able to scoop objects as small as 1.5 millimeters in radius.
Project Duration: The project concluded in February 2021, at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
Operation Flow: Bloom features retractable nails to help in precision grasping of small and thin objects. An optimized bi-directional flap design allows for scooping actions for granular objects such as grains, jelly or scrambled eggs. A multi-material palm design allows for changing Bloom’s aperture for wide objects. Bloom utilizes low, safe pressures (-80kPa to 60kPa) to switch between and operate the various grasping modes.
Team Members: Snehal Jain
Saikrishna Dontu
Joanne Ee Mei Teoh.
Image Credits: Snehal Jain
Saikrishna Dontu
Joanne Ee Mei Teoh
Aaron Chooi
Pablo Valdivia Y Alvarado