To: Nancy Myers

From: Jeff Johns

Date: April 12-2021
Subject: APLED 121-Reasearch Project Outline

Research Project Outline

Pneumatics in Robotics
By (Jeff Johns, Will Conklin, and Madison Kelley)
McKibben Air Muscle (Jeff)
 Introduction
 McKibben artificial muscle used in orthotics
 An orthotic is an externally applied device used to modify the structural and functional
characteristics of the neuromuscular and skeletal system
 Air muscle design
o Developed in the 1950’s
o Working principals
o Slides 4-7
 Combining air pressure and fluid power
 Modern versions of the air muscle
o Stringing muscles together for increased load bearing potential
o Using small diameter muscles together
 Advantages and disadvantages
 Conclusion (short video)
Bionics in robotics (Will)
 Festo Bionics
o Introduction
 Bionic handling assistant
o Designed to mimic an elephant trunk
o Three sections of polyamide bellows
o Hand axis with three bellows
o Fin gripper mimics fish tail
 Example of bellows section
 Bionic soft arm and hand
o Similar to bionic handling equipment
o Mate exoskeleton
o Attachments
o Artificial intelligence
  Bionic soft hand components
 Variety of different grippers
 Conclusion
Fluid Power Gives Robot Arms All the Right Moves (Madison)
 Introduction
 Short clip of robot moving
 What it can do
 How it is built
 Conclusion