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Student Winner

Toys & Play Award

Core77 Design Awards 2024

Airbit - Democratization Creation toolkit for soft robotics

Airbit is a low-barrier, highly engaging, and expandable soft robotics creative development kit. Its design aim is to enable users of nearly all cognitive levels to learn about soft robotics structures and create prototypes, thereby gaining knowledge and enjoyment from the process. The hardware component of Airbit comprises four fundamental elements: an Airbrick, a Softbody, connector, and a development baseboard, along with their corresponding API interfaces. Users and developers can use these components for prototype design or integrate them into other development projects.

Since 2015, bionic soft robots with pneumatic actuators have advanced in robotics research, offering unique human-robot interaction potential. Their flexible forms differ from rigid robots in design, production, and user experience. Advances in 3D printing have made soft robots more accessible and cheaper to produce. This technology is still emerging in consumer markets, with great potential in educational toys and STEAM education due to its simplicity and creative possibilities, making it a valuable tool for innovation in technology. Easy assembly and reusability, Assistance with complex designs, Open-source expansion of soft structures, Low-cost materials are urgently needed for developers making soft robots.

Airbit offers a user-friendly, engaging introduction to soft robotics, designed for individuals at nearly all cognitive levels to explore and innovate. This creative development kit simplifies the learning process, allowing users to understand soft robotics and build prototypes, enriching their knowledge and enjoyment. It consists of essential hardware components: an Airbrick (air source module), Softbody (soft body module), Connector (connector module), and a development baseboard, each with API interfaces for seamless integration and creativity. The user interface, an interactive design tool, connects to the hardware via WiFi or serial port, facilitating complex design and control. It features interactive tutorials, design assistance, and community-sharing capabilities, enhancing the user experience. Airbit is not just for learning; it's a platform for users and developers to design prototypes and integrate these innovations into broader development projects.

Airbit revolutionizes soft robotics, offering a creative development kit accessible to users with no programming background. It empowers individuals across all cognitive levels to engage with soft robotics, facilitating learning and prototype creation. Designed as an inclusive tool, Airbit transforms robotics education for K-12 students into a fun, Lego-like experience. Artists can seamlessly integrate technology into their projects, making it easier to produce and showcase new media art. For developers and researchers, it provides an open-source environment for complex, tailored projects, promoting innovation and collaboration. Airbit's versatile design ensures it meets the needs of various users, from beginners to experts.

Airbit differentiates itself in the market by being poised to become the first mature, mass-produced soft robotics kit, addressing the gap where currently only experimental versions exist. It provides an intuitive, user-friendly platform that lowers the barrier to entry, enabling users to assemble soft robotic prototypes without prior experience.




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  • Honoree

    Xiaoling Lin

  • School

    Hunan University & Tongji University

  • Project Team

    Xiaoling Lin

    Dikai Yu

    Hao Tan

    Xiangyang Xin

  • Category

    Toys & Play

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