Soft robotics to ensure safe food handling

Abstract

Soft robotics is a subfield of robotics that concerns the design, control, and fabrication of robots composed of compliant materials, instead of rigid links [1]. Using softer materials similar to those found in living organisms, researchers have developed a variety of actuators that are lightweight, fast acting, and compliant. Soft actuators are trending due to their increased flexibility and adaptability for different tasks like manipulating and grasping fragile objects, agricultural products, and food items.

Harvesting, sorting, and packaging fragile food items like delicate fruits and vegetables have been predominantly done using human labour. Such exhausting and repetitive work leads to increased food wastage due to rough handling and human errors. The use of soft robotics for food handling could reduce damage during processing stages. This could enhance production efficiency and leads to improved food security in the future.