Machine Learning for Soft Robot Sensing and Control: A Tutorial Study

Abstract

Developing feedback controllers for robots with embedded sensors is challenging and typically requires expert knowledge. As machine learning (ML) advances, the development of learning-based controllers has become more and more accessible, even to non-experts. This work presents the development of a tutorial to educate non-roboticists about ML-based sensing and control in cyber-physical systems using a soft robotic device. We demonstrated this by creating a recurrent neural network-based closed-loop force controller for a soft finger with embedded soft sensors. Our hypothesis is validated in a 2.5-hour workshop session for students with no prior knowledge of robot control. This work serves as a tutorial for participants aiming to experience and perform a general benchmark for soft robot control tasks, with little or even no expertise in robotics.