Design and additive manufacturing of soft snake-like robots: a comprehensive review
摘要
This comprehensive review delves into the applications of additive manufacturing technology in the fabrication of soft snake-like robots, providing an in-depth analysis of its advantages over traditional manufacturing methods. The article begins by introducing the design philosophy and locomotion principles of soft snake-like robots, which emulate the movement patterns of snakes in nature and possess unique capabilities for executing various tasks in complex environments, such as search and rescue, medical surgery, and pipeline inspection. Subsequently, the review elaborates on the pivotal role of additive manufacturing in the manufacturing process of soft snake-like robots, including the reduction of manufacturing costs, enhancement of production efficiency, and precise fabrication of complex structures. Furthermore, the article explores the material science involved in the construction of snake robots, presenting key materials such as flexible polymers, shape memory polymers, and hydrogels, and discusses their impact on the performance of snake-like robots.