Development of Low-Cost and Bidirectional Syringe Pumps for Soft Robotics Applications

Soft robotics leverages deformable materials with the aim of developing systems capable of robustly navigating unstructured and dynamic environments. Often silicone elas- tomeric robots rely on pneunatic actuation to induce motion. However, traditional pneumatic actuation methods pose signifi- cant challenges due to their limited efficacy, cost, complexity, or lack of precision. This work introduces a low-cost and modular syringe pump system, constructed with off-the-shelf and 3D printed parts, designed to overcome these limitations. The syringe pump system also enhances actuation with the unique ability to pull a vacuum as well pump air into the soft robot. Furthermore, the syringe pump features modular hardware and customizable software, allowing for researchers to tailor the syringe pump to their requirements or operate multiple pumps simultaneously with unique pump parameters. This flexibility makes the syringe pump an accessible and scalable tool that paves the way for broader adoption of soft robotic technologies in research and education.