T
he Centre for Robotics and Automation (CRA), in association with the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE), successfully conducted a two-day hands-on workshop on Soft Robotics on 19–20 September 2026. The workshop brought together 20 participants from across Gujarat, providing them with an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of soft robotics through a highly interactive and practical approach.
The workshop was coordinated by Dr. Vishal Mehta and Dr. Mihir Chauhan. On the first day, Dr. Vishal Mehta delivered an engaging introductory session on Soft Robotics, covering different types of soft actuators, their working principles, and their applications in robotics and other emerging fields.
The highlight of the workshop was the hands-on fabrication activity. Instead of only learning about soft actuators theoretically, the participants actively prepared moulds, mixed and prepared liquid silicone material, and poured it into the moulds to fabricate their own soft pneumatic actuators. The activity generated considerable interest and participation, allowing the participants to experience the complete fabrication process themselves.
On the second day, the fabricated actuators were unmoulded and tested by the participants. They inflated the actuators and observed the resulting bending motion. Participants further investigated the relationship between applied pneumatic pressure and bending angle by conducting experiments, recording observations, and plotting the characteristic curve of the soft actuator. This activity helped them connect the theoretical concepts with actual experimental behaviour.
The participants were also introduced to the CAD modelling of actuator moulds, providing them with an insight into how actuator geometry can be designed and subsequently translated into moulds for fabrication.
The workshop provided a valuable learning experience by combining conceptual understanding, fabrication, experimentation, measurement, and CAD-based design. The active involvement and enthusiasm of the participants throughout the two days made the workshop highly interactive and engaging.
Special appreciation is extended to Dr. Vishal Mehta for his excellent technical sessions, clear explanation of concepts, carefully designed hands-on activities, and effective conduct of the workshop. His approach made the subject accessible and encouraged participants to actively experiment, observe, and learn.
CRA and CCE look forward to conducting more such practical and application-oriented programmes in emerging areas of robotics and automation.