ARSO 2025 in Osaka, Japan
From July 17 to 19, 2025, the lab took part in the 2025 IEEE International Conference on Advanced Robotics and its Social Impacts (ARSO) in Osaka, Japan. We had two papers accepted as regular papers, both presented orally and published in the conference proceedings on IEEE Xplore.
Both papers apply soft robotics to problems that affect people directly: one in emergency medicine and one in retail. That fits ARSO's focus on the social impact of robotics.
What we presented
Design and manufacturing of a soft tourniquet for regulation of arterial occlusion pressure
Juana Camacho, Jonathan Camargo
Bleeding control is critical in emergency medicine, but traditional tourniquets apply a static pressure. When that pressure is too high, it can cause tissue damage, apoptosis and thrombosis. We designed and built a soft robotic tourniquet that adjusts its pressure to reach the arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) while reducing those risks.
The design is inspired by the longitudinal muscle structures of tardigrades. It is a soft ring with internal chambers that contract under negative pressure, compressing the limb all the way around. We refined the design through simulation and iterative prototyping. Tested on a venipuncture simulation arm, the tourniquet reduced its internal diameter by 53.95%, contracting effectively and conforming to the limb.
Presenting the soft tourniquet results: relaxed and contracted modules and rings.
A shape-shifting mannequin for enhanced retail experience
David Ramirez-Corredor, Alejandro Cante-Munoz, Jonathan Camargo
Store mannequins come in a few fixed sizes, so they rarely show how a garment fits other body types. We developed a shape-shifting mannequin made of soft pneumatic segments that change its dimensions to represent different bodies. It is aimed at size inclusivity and a better shopping experience, especially for displaying elastic garments without distortion. Along with the paper, the work's video was also accepted.
Mannequin prototype: soft segments with independent pneumatic inputs.
Besides the talk, we brought the prototype to the conference venue for a live demonstration. Attendees could watch the mannequin change shape as the syringes driving each segment were operated.
Explaining how the mannequin works during the live demonstration.
Attendees at the live demonstration at the ARSO 2025 venue.
About the event
IEEE ARSO is a conference of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society. It brings together research in advanced robotics and the analysis of its social, economic and ethical effects. The 2025 edition was held in Osaka and coincided with Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. For the lab, it was a chance to share our soft robotics work in a setting that asks not only whether a technology works, but how it changes people's lives.
Outcomes and takeaways
- Two papers published in the IEEE ARSO 2025 proceedings.
- Two oral presentations and a live demonstration of the mannequin prototype.
- Conversations with researchers from Japan, Europe and the Americas about soft robotics, assistive devices and the social impact of robotics.
Links
- Camacho, J., Camargo, J. "Design and Manufacturing of a Soft Tourniquet for Regulation of Arterial Oclussion Pressure." 2025 IEEE International Conference on Advanced Robotics and its Social Impacts (ARSO), Osaka, Japan, 2025, pp. 176–181. doi:10.1109/ARSO64737.2025.11124956 · IEEE Xplore
- Ramirez-Corredor, D., Cante-Munoz, A., Camargo, J. "A Shape-Shifting Mannequin for Enhanced Retail Experience." 2025 IEEE International Conference on Advanced Robotics and its Social Impacts (ARSO), Osaka, Japan, 2025, pp. 206–211. doi:10.1109/ARSO64737.2025.11124994 · IEEE Xplore
- Conference website: ieee-arso.org