Research

Our mission: 'intelligence through design' - embedding intelligence in the physical structure of soft machines

Pneumatic soft robots

Soft robotics

Robotic systems made from physically soft materials are important due to their inherently safe human interactions and non-linear characteristics. We focus on soft robots and actuators with soft polymers and responsive materials to develop new actuation systems, improve performance and achieve new capabilities.

Mechanical instabilities: exploiting non-linearities

Mechanical instabilities

A mechanical instability is when a system experiences a rapid transition from a stable state because of a drastic reduction of its stiffness, leading to large deformations. Soft materials can accommodate these large deformations, enabling the use of mechanical instabilities as a programmable robotic actuation method.

Mechanical metamaterials: function from structure

Mechanical metamaterials

Mechanical metamaterials are rationally designed structures of geometrical architecture leading to unusual physical and mechanical properties. We utilize a careful selection of both (local) design and materials to achieve new properties and programmed function, otherwise inaccessible with natural materials.

Soft biosensors: flexible sensors for wearable health monitoring

Soft biosensors

We develop biosensors on soft, flexible substrates to enable wearable applications for monitoring various human health conditions.

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This image shows Aniket Pal

Aniket Pal

Jun.-Prof. Dr.

Principal Investigator

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