Deformation control of sinusoidal lattice metamaterial for application in robotics

Abstract

This study presents a methodology for controlling deformation in a sinusoidal metamaterial using parametric design, FEM simulation, and 3D printing. The focus is on generating a design where the deformation of the metamaterial can be controlled and thus be able to apply it in a flexible gripper using a sinusoidal metamaterial as base material. The parametric design approach is employed to create a structure of the sinusoidal unit cell, and FEM simulation is used to evaluate its mechanical behavior and compare it with the Experimental testing. The sinusoidal metamaterial is then 3D printed using a flexible TPU filament. Experimental testing also demonstrates the gripper's adaptability and deformation control. The results validate the effectiveness of the design, showing the deformation control of the sinusoidal structure, also improved grip capacity and manipulation capabilities. This study has significant potential for applications in robotics. The combination of generative design, FEM simulation, and 3D printing enables the creation of customized and functional grippers that can adapt to various object shapes and sizes.