OpenAlex ·

One Print, Many Moves: Monolithic Origami-inspired Folding Actuator for Composable Soft Multi-DoF Systems

JaeHyung Jang, Zhenishbek Zhakypov, Jasmin Elena Palmer, Melissa Klein, Jee-Hwan Ryu and Allison Mariko Okamura

Published
Source
OpenAlex
DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2609.00751
Original
Read it at the publisher
Topics
Systems & ControlBiomedical Engineering

Abstract

Conventional soft robot actuators excel in compliance, but their uncontrolled deformations compromise accuracy and hinder scaling to multi-degree-of-freedom (DoF) systems. We introduce a MONOlithic ORIGAMI-inspired soft folding actuator design (MONORIGAMI) that establishes a design strategy based on spatially programmed stiffness anisotropy to preserve material compliance along desired folding directions while selectively restricting deformation in unwanted directions. The actuator leverages stiffness tiers based on material thickness, patterned in an origami-inspired geometry with facets and creases, converting unconstrained soft deformation into accurate, repeatable, and composable folding motions without additional reinforcements. The design is fully 3D-printable through a single-material, single-print process that requires no assembly. Each actuator serves as a scalable motion primitive, and linking and orienting multiple actuators mechanically programs multi-DoF trajectories. Using the same fundamental module, we demonstrate three 3D-printed soft multi-DoF robotic systems spanning distinct application domains: (1) a compact 4-DoF wearable haptic device for high-fidelity cutaneous feedback in virtual reality (VR), (2) a 3-DoF joystick for kinesthetic feedback in teleoperation, and (3) a modular robotic gripper capable of underwater operation with geometry-encoded grasp trajectories. These systems demonstrate the module's capabilities for compact multi-axis integration, controlled physical interaction, and geometry-programmed operation across different environments. Together, these results show that MONORIGAMI provides a general, composable, accessible, reliable, and scalable platform for high-precision soft multi-DoF robotics, addressing long-standing limitations in both soft actuator design and fabrication.

The authors’ abstract, as arXiv lists it. arXiv’s listings, abstracts included, are free for anyone to reuse.

Read it on ReadSearch

Each opens after you create an account, and brings you back to this paper.

Already a reader? Sign in

All new papers in Systems & Control

Get the few papers worth your time in Systems & Control every morning.

ReadSearch reads the new papers in your field each day and brings you the few worth reading, each with its key finding in a sentence.

Papers belong to their authors and publishers; every page here links to the original. All research topics