Bloom Isibambo Sobunjiniyela Esithambile by Bio-Inspired Robotics Design Lab

Bloom Isibambo Sobunjiniyela Esithambile by Bio-Inspired Robotics Design Lab is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 Umklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award in Amarobhothi Competition Category.

InsimbiAmarobhothi· 2022

Bloom Isibambo Sobunjiniyela Esithambile

by Bio-Inspired Robotics Design Lab

Client: Bio-inspired Robotics & Design Laboratory

Umklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award Winner in Amarobhothi Category

19,474

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #137335

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Bloom Isibambo Sobunjiniyela Esithambile

Bloom yisibambo sobunjiniyela esithambile esiklanywe ukuze sisetshenziselwe imisebenzi ephathwa ngezokuzenzakalela nokuhlanganiswa kwezinto. Isibambo siphefumulelwe isandla somuntu kanye nokuqhakaza okuphindaphindekayo kwerose iGallic. I-Bloom yenziwe ngesiliconi futhi inyakaziswa ingcindezi yomoya. Izinzipho ezingenayo zivumela ukubamba okunembile kwezinto ezincane futhi zicashile. Amaqabunga agoqekayo avumela ukukha izinto ezinjengesikhotha noma uhlobo lwesinhlava. Intende yesandla eguquguqukayo ishintsha ubukhulu bokuvuleka ukuze kubambeke izinto ezikhulu. Ingcindezi ephansi neyimpepha isetshenziswa ukushintshanisa phakathi kwezindlela zokubamba. I-Bloom ingaphatha izinto ezibucayi ngokuphepha, iseduze nabasebenzi babantu.

The Recognition

About the Umklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award

Bloom Isibambo Sobunjiniyela Esithambile iwinile uMklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award, ukwaziswa okuhloniphekile okunikezwa imiklamo emihle ehlangabezana nezidingo zobungcweti nezemboni ezilindelekile ezimpahleni ezihlelwe kahle. Abawinile beNsimbi babonisa ikhono elikhulu, ubungcweti obuphezulu, ukuqonda kochwepheshe namandla okudala abadali babo. Bloom Isibambo Sobunjiniyela Esithambile ilindeleke ukuba ibe yinto exatshwa kakhulu, edunyiswayo nethandwayo esebenzayo nenezinto ezintsha. Lo mklamo owinile uMklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award uhlanganisa izindlela ezinhle kakhulu zemboni futhi unezimfanelo zobuchwepheshe ezifanelekile ezihlanganiswe nolwazi nethalente. Bloom Isibambo Sobunjiniyela Esithambile iyahlonishwa ngenxa yokucophelela kwayo futhi ihlelelwe ukulethela izinguquko zomgangatho wempilo ezisiza ukwenza umhlaba ube 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