Soft robotics has emerged as a growing field of research, emphasizing flexible and deformable robotic systems designed with materials that mimic the characteristics of soft biological tissues. Innovation in this field typically revolves around the introduction of new material actuators and the unique capabilities they offer. However, when it comes to incorporating sound into these robots, there is a tendency to shift to digital methods rather than exploring the rich auditory potential of these materials.

This project explores how soft robots can use non-digital sound synthesis to facilitate interactions in future scenarios. Through the creation of performative objects and the facilitation of workshops with experts in the field, the design space got defined, resulting in a preliminary framework of guiding principles for the sound design of soft robotics through tangible materials.

NoiseBot is the latest of these performative objects. It is a playful demonstration on how to design sound for soft robotics by allowing for tangible experimentation with sound synthesis, directly on an operational robot. The goal of this is to open up the conversation on the role of sound in human-(soft)robot interaction and the future of this rapidly evolving field.