Multifunctional fluidic networks

Soft robots powered by pressurized fluid are enabling a variety of innovative applications in diverse areas, from biomimetics to rehabilitation. Such soft machines need suitable integrated pressure control. Currently, there is no general design strategy for building non-electronic control modules that require few inputs yet enable multiple functionalities.

Here, we present a fluidic network that can act as just such a multifunctional control device. Crucially, the network's multifunctionality comes from the inclusion of nonlinear elements which can be realized using simple and cheap materials. We show how these nonlinearities expand the network functionality and explore how other nonlinear elements can be used to realize more complex behavior. This work presents a new pathway for the design of soft robotic controllers.