A Collapsible Soft Actuator Facilitates Performance in Constrained Environments

Complex environments, such as those found in surgical and search‐and‐rescue applications, require soft devices to adapt to minimal space conditions without sacrificing the ability to complete dexterous tasks. Stacked balloon actuators (SBAs) are capable of large deformations despite folding nearly flat when deflated, making them ideal candidates for such applications. This paper presents the design, fabrication, modeling, and characterization of monolithic, inflatable, soft SBAs. Modeling is presented using analytical principles based on geometry and then using conventional and real‐time finite‐element methods. Both one and three degree‐of‐freedom (DoF) SBAs are fully characterized with regard to stroke, force, and workspace. Finally, three representative demonstrations show the SBA's small‐aperture navigation, bracing, and workspace‐enhancing capabilities. Researchers have developed a soft actuator with minimal footprint and maximized functionality. The stacked balloon actuator, or SBA, can expand up to several centimeters from a nearly flat state and generate Newton‐level forces in various configurations. The researchers envision new opportunities in unstructured environments, from surgery to exploration and search‐and‐rescue.