Funabot-Finger Cot: Bio-Inspired Worm Robot for Peristaltic Wave Locomotion and Tubular Structure Climbing

In recent years, robots that move on tubular structures have attracted much attention. These robots are used in a variety of applications and provide very significant benefits such as increased work efficiency, improved safety, and reduced work costs. Robots that move on tubular structures include robots that move while grasping objects, robots that move while attached by suction cups or adhesive materials, and robots that move by wheels. However, conventional robots have large, rigid parts and cannot move in confined environments because they need sufficient mechanical strength to climb against gravity. This is where our research group's Funabot-Finger Cot comes in. This device is a small device with pneumatically expandable artificial muscles fixed to a cloth, and its movement can be controlled by controlling the pattern of air pressure application. The repeated contraction and relaxation characteristics of the device suggest that it could be used as a robot that moves on a tubular structure that mimics the peristaltic movement of living organisms. Peristaltic motion is the coordinated contraction and relaxation of muscles, which allows the robot to move over the ground, gaps, and objects. The Funabot-Finger Cot makes several contributions. First, because it is made of flexible fabric, it can be wrapped around structures of various shapes. Its thinness also allows it to move efficiently in constrained environments that are difficult for conventional robots. Secondly Cost-effective and cost-saving. Because this is small robot and made of common fabric and a small amount of artificial muscle, they can be made inexpensively and easily. The most notable feature is its versatility. Finally, the fact that the actuator supports both circular longitudinal contraction allows for more complex movements. This study will focus on the third advantage in particular, evaluating movement over tubular structures in circular contraction and in longitudinal contraction.