We've come across many software robots, some of which are covered in tech publications with a compelling story on the cover of Science Robotics. For example, here's one that caught our attention recently.
No offense intended, but there are also real scientists who are working hard to develop these soft robots. We previously introduced Professor Wenli and his soft robot. Today, we want to introduce you to another remarkable creation — a soft robotic system developed by Harvard University’s BioDesign Lab, often referred to as the "flexible golden hoop" in some media.
At first glance, this robot may not look impressive or move in an eye-catching way. However, after seeing the images below, I was truly moved.
If you have an elderly person around who has suffered from a stroke, you can better understand the significance of this technology.
With rising living standards, chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes are becoming more common. Among them, stroke-induced hemiplegia is particularly devastating. According to Harvard's official website, over 4 million people in the U.S. live with hemiplegia due to stroke, and globally, about 6 million people suffer from it. Millions more face similar challenges, where losing hand function severely impacts quality of life.
Harvard’s soft robotic gloves feature flexible gold bands embedded in the fingers, allowing patients to regain their ability to grasp objects through controlled movement. This innovation could be a second chance for many elderly individuals suffering from such conditions.
Another application of this soft robotics technology is in treating heart failure. The device functions as a soft robotic pump that gently compresses the heart, helping it pump blood without invasive surgery. Unlike traditional artificial pumps made of metal, which can cause infections, this soft design is safer and more comfortable for long-term use.
The key to its success lies in its ability to respond to signals and change shape dynamically. These changes include scaling, bending, and distortion, all under control.
First type of change: Scaling
â–¼
Second type of change: Bending
â–¼
Third type of change: Distortion
â–¼ 
These three types of movements can even happen simultaneously.
â–¼
One of the most impressive features is its directional accuracy. As shown in the image, once a direction is set, the robot consistently follows it.
The dotted line represents the instruction, while the solid line shows the path the robot actually takes — almost perfectly aligned with the target route.
This flexibility allows the robot to avoid obstacles and return to its original path effortlessly.
When it encounters an obstacle again, it simply pushes it aside and continues along the planned route.
The performance of this robot opens up exciting possibilities for the future. Imagine soft robots that could act like artificial muscles. As they become smaller, more powerful, and softer, they may eventually resemble human muscles closely.
The Da Vinci surgical robot is a good example of how soft robotics can transform medical procedures. Though it has a rigid structure, it is surprisingly flexible, even more so than the human hand. That’s why it can easily separate grape skins and perform precise stitches.
If this technology matures, using soft robotic devices for surgery could significantly reduce trauma. Patients might even be discharged on the same day if the incision is less than 2mm in diameter.
Therefore, this kind of soft robot gives us reason to believe that major surgeries of today may one day become minor or microsurgeries. A truly great robot should be designed with one goal in mind — to benefit humanity.
DIN Connector, DIN Circular Connectors, Mini DIN Connector, Male Female DIN Connector, DIN MIDI Adapter
Changzhou Kingsun New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. , https://www.aioconn.com