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Courses - Fall 2024
VIPS
Vertically Integrated Projects
VIPS408R
(Perm Req)
Leading with Vertically Integrated Projects; 3D-Printed Video Game-Playing Soft Robots
Credits: 1 - 2
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
Restriction: permission of department. Students must apply through the VIP@Maryland application process in order to join a VIP team.

Soft robots have emerged as powerful alternatives for applications that would be difficult or impossible to realize using traditional, rigid robots. Despite a number of inherent benefits for soft robots, particularly in terms of safety for human-robot interactions, challenges associated with controlling the underlying fluidics of such systems represent key barriers to utility. Recently, Sochol's "Bioinspired Advanced Manufacturing (BAM)" Laboratory introduced a strategy for 3D printing soft robots comprising fully integrated fluidic ircuitry in a single print run and demonstrated a soft robotic "hand" capable of beating the first level ofSuper Mario Bros. This particular approach relied on an expensive (>$100,000) 3D printer. The goal of this project is to extend this strategy to inexpensive (e.g., <$500) 3D printers to support accessibility and demonstrate its efficacy by engineering soft robots capable of playing video games.