Robots are a useful tool, but when people want to work with robots there are a lot of dangers involved. There are many spots on robots where somebody could easily get their fingers stuck and pinched; these spots are known as pinch points. One way that engineers can avoid putting these pinch points onto robots is using soft robots. Soft robots are made of more flexible materials, such as silicone, and move by using air pressure. These types of robots are much safer than traditional robots made of metal and motors. Soft robots can be used in many ways, such as a robotic hand or gripper.
Soft Robotics TEK8 Student Handout
The student handout will be given to all students working on the design challenge. It gives a brief recap of the story, it helps the students identify what they are attempting to achieve, and it recaps the design process.
Soft Robotics TEK8 Facilitator Guide
This Instructor’s Guide provides the instructor additional information on how to run the design challenge with alternatives for materials and test setups as well as information to help make the design challenge a good educational experience.
The Telling the Story Video conveys the societal impact of the student’s research that is the basis for the design challenge and will set the problem-solving context for students.
The Design Challenge Video leads students through the design process. It indicates materials available, states what the criteria are for success and any constraints. It also gives a second ‘level’ of the design challenge that allows ‘early completers’ to move on to a slightly more difficult challenge.