Soft robotic technologies for next-generation bio-integrative medical devices
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Engineering Mathematics and Technology
Abstract
Healthcare is in need of more advanced therapies that integrate closely with the biological and physical systems of the human body. These include new treatments for age-related physical degradation, for example in the circulatory system, and post-operative functional restoration following surgery, including cancer removal, and trauma including traffic accidents. Unfortunately current medical treatments and devices rely heavily on conventional 'hard' technologies that limit effectiveness and raise safety and cost issues. In contrast soft robotic technologies have the potential for close bio-integration by exploiting the 'soft-soft' interfacing that is so prevalent in Nature. Soft robotics offers safer, scalable, lower cost and more effective personalised medical treatments. This fellowship will develop innovative modular soft robotic technologies for rapid exploitation in the next generation bio-integrative medical and therapeutic systems.
To enable future soft robotic healthcare technologies requires a concerted effort across the development pipeline from fundamental biocompatible smart materials and their corresponding nonlinear viscoelastic mathematical modelling to efficient compliant mechanisms and complete compliant machines. Fundamental studies into materials and mechanisms will be undertaken and will feed into the identification and characterisation of a set of modular soft robotic components that act as 'building blocks' for complete implantable medical devices.
The technologies identified and developed will contribute directly to a step change in the sophistication of bio-integrative medical treatments. These will strengthen the UKs capability in the field of healthcare technologies and will make a significant contribution to improvements in standards of care and quality of life for a wide range of patients.
To enable future soft robotic healthcare technologies requires a concerted effort across the development pipeline from fundamental biocompatible smart materials and their corresponding nonlinear viscoelastic mathematical modelling to efficient compliant mechanisms and complete compliant machines. Fundamental studies into materials and mechanisms will be undertaken and will feed into the identification and characterisation of a set of modular soft robotic components that act as 'building blocks' for complete implantable medical devices.
The technologies identified and developed will contribute directly to a step change in the sophistication of bio-integrative medical treatments. These will strengthen the UKs capability in the field of healthcare technologies and will make a significant contribution to improvements in standards of care and quality of life for a wide range of patients.
Planned Impact
The soft robotic technologies proposed here will provide the means for the design, development and fabrication of bio-integrative active medical devices. No alternative can meet the growing clinical need for active, compliant and safe implantable treatments. The technologies that will be developed on this fellowship will remove the constraints of current systems that are rigid, non bio-integrative and unsuitable for personalisation. This fellowship will generate high impact in the clinical domain through close interaction with clinical partners working in the fields of cardio-vascular and laryngeal diseases. Core partners include UCL, Royal National Ear Nose and Throat Hospital, and Bristol Royal Infirmary, all of whom have indicated their level of engagement in this research not only through tangible contributions, but also in their prior engagements on feasibility studies. Indeed the high clinical impact of soft robotics is shown by the desire of these partners to also leverage this research beyond implantable medical devices to day-to-day care materials (e.g. smart bandages) and surgical tools (e.g. compliant 6-DOF surgical retractor).
This project will directly engage with industry through visits and invited talks, building on my industrial contacts and industry engagement activities through the RoboSoft coordination action, for which I manage engagement and dissemination across Europe. These include device manufacturers such as Terumo Research Labs and companies that have identified robotic healthcare as a key area for expansion, including BAe Systems and Renishaw. In addition the planned workshop dedicated to soft robotic healthcare technologies will foster further interaction between researchers, clinicians and the medical industry.
Wider impact will be achieved through public engagement activities which will be coordinated with those underway as part of the RoboSoft coordination action. These include the fabrication of demonstration soft robotic devices that can be handled by the public and can be directly compared to their rigid (and less effective) counterparts. Planned engagement activities include the Cheltenham Science Festivals and events at the @Bristol science centre. I am committed to public engagement and communication and this will form an important component of the wider impact activities of this proposal.
Impact in the international context will be achieved not only through traditional academic routes including journals and conferences but also through tightly integrated engagement with project partner Riken and close collaborators in Japan, New Zealand and Europe. These will include seven months of research visits spread across the five years of the fellowship, and engagement and interaction visits to Harvard, UCLA, EPFL, ETHZ and IIT. These are expected to lead to substantial future research collaborations and will accelerate the development and exploitation of these soft robotic technologies.
This project will directly engage with industry through visits and invited talks, building on my industrial contacts and industry engagement activities through the RoboSoft coordination action, for which I manage engagement and dissemination across Europe. These include device manufacturers such as Terumo Research Labs and companies that have identified robotic healthcare as a key area for expansion, including BAe Systems and Renishaw. In addition the planned workshop dedicated to soft robotic healthcare technologies will foster further interaction between researchers, clinicians and the medical industry.
Wider impact will be achieved through public engagement activities which will be coordinated with those underway as part of the RoboSoft coordination action. These include the fabrication of demonstration soft robotic devices that can be handled by the public and can be directly compared to their rigid (and less effective) counterparts. Planned engagement activities include the Cheltenham Science Festivals and events at the @Bristol science centre. I am committed to public engagement and communication and this will form an important component of the wider impact activities of this proposal.
Impact in the international context will be achieved not only through traditional academic routes including journals and conferences but also through tightly integrated engagement with project partner Riken and close collaborators in Japan, New Zealand and Europe. These will include seven months of research visits spread across the five years of the fellowship, and engagement and interaction visits to Harvard, UCLA, EPFL, ETHZ and IIT. These are expected to lead to substantial future research collaborations and will accelerate the development and exploitation of these soft robotic technologies.
People |
ORCID iD |
Jonathan Rossiter (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Bluett S
(2020)
Self-Sensing Electro-Ribbon Actuators
in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters
Cao C
(2019)
De-electroadhesion of Flexible and Lightweight Materials: An Experimental Study
in Applied Sciences
Castro B
(2021)
Modular simulation framework for Electro-ribbon Actuators
Chen HY
(2019)
RUBIC: An Untethered Soft Robot With Discrete Path Following.
in Frontiers in robotics and AI
Chen R
(2022)
Variable Stiffness Electroadhesion and Compliant Electroadhesive Grippers.
in Soft robotics
Correia Carreira S
(2021)
FleXert: A Soft, Actuatable Multiwell Plate Insert for Cell Culture under Stretch
in ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering
Crowe EM
(2017)
Expertise Affects Inter-Observer Agreement at Peripheral Locations within a Brain Tumor.
in Frontiers in psychology
Dicker MPM
(2017)
Light-Triggered Soft Artificial Muscles: Molecular-Level Amplification of Actuation Control Signals.
in Scientific reports
Description | We have developed new actuation technologies for soft robotics, including Dielectric Zipping Actuators and Electro-Origami. These have been published in three articles in Science Robotics, the top robotics journal. |
Exploitation Route | We have patented our technologies. A UK/EU patent has been applied for and country-specific patents are in preparation. We have secured follow-on funding from the Royal Society and EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account. We are in talks with a number of potential commercial partners. |
Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Creative Economy,Electronics,Healthcare |
Description | Confidence in Concepts |
Amount | £70,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2016 |
End | 08/2017 |
Description | FREEHAB: accessible, comfortable and adaptable wearable rehabilitation and assist devices |
Amount | £1,181,154 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/S026096/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2019 |
End | 04/2024 |
Description | Proof of Concept (Invitation Only) 3 |
Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | PoC2223-25 |
Organisation | Royal Academy of Engineering |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2023 |
End | 01/2024 |
Description | ROBOFOOD - The new science and technology of edible robots and robotic food for humans and animals |
Amount | € 3,411,691 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 964596 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 10/2021 |
End | 09/2025 |
Description | Royal Academy of Engineering Chair in Emerging Technologies |
Amount | £1,300,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Royal Academy of Engineering |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2018 |
End | 02/2028 |
Description | SoRo for Health: Implantable soft robotics for restoration of physiological function |
Amount | £1,895,192 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/R02961X/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2018 |
End | 05/2024 |
Description | Towards DPFS - low level safety sentinel for the ITV implantable anti-aspiration device |
Amount | £82,114 (GBP) |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2023 |
End | 01/2024 |
Description | Ultra-high strain electroactuators and artificial muscles |
Amount | £49,530 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2018 |
End | 02/2020 |
Description | emPOWER: in-body artificial muscles for physical augmentation, function restoration, patient empowerment and future healthcare |
Amount | £6,142,804 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/T020792/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2021 |
End | 08/2026 |
Title | Bionic Glove - RA-L 2021 |
Description | This data supports the paper titled: "B:Ionic Glove: A Soft Smart Wearable Sensory Feedback Device for Upper Limb Robotic Prostheses" Authors: Simons, M. F., Digumarti, K. M., Le, N. H., Chen, H-Y., Carreira, S. C., Zaghloul, N. S. S., Diteesawat, R. S., Garrad, M., Conn, A. T., Kent, C., Rossiter, J. Contact: melanie.simons@bristol.ac.uk ======================================== The paper has been accepted for publication in the IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (RA-L). ======================================== |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://data.bris.ac.uk/data/dataset/3izox36nrlotg2papldp8lyfjc/ |
Title | Data for 2021 RetracTip |
Description | Inlcuded here are data to support the paper: Qiukai Q, Chaoqun Xiang, Van Anh Ho, Jonathan Rossiter, A Sea-Anemone-Inspired, Multifunctional, Bistable Gripper. Soft Robotics (2021). |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://data.bris.ac.uk/data/dataset/1omzijcjqo8j820wlv6gvy86nr/ |
Title | Data for 3D konjac gels paper |
Description | Data to support the paper "Towards stimuli-responsive soft robots with 3D printed self-healing konjac glucomannan gels" by Krishna Manaswi Digumarti, Daniel Gosden, Nguyen Le, Jonathan Rossiter accepted for publication in 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing on 25 May 2021 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://data.bris.ac.uk/data/dataset/flotdeagj80y2tnhs08i0acim/ |
Title | Data for AFM graded stiffness gel paper |
Description | Included here are data to support the paper: M. Taghavi, H.Y. C, A. T. Conn, J. Rossiter, Stiffness Graded Electroactive Artificial Muscle. Advanced Functional Materials (2022). |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://data.bris.ac.uk/data/dataset/2zbvg07b3mb7l22irr6a3u2axr/ |
Title | Data for Electro-Lattice Actuator paper |
Description | Data to support the results reported in "Electro-Lattice Actuator: a compliant high-contractile active lattice structure", published in 'Smart materials and Structures'. Authors: Sam Hoh, Tim Helps, Richard Suphapol Diteesawat, Majid Taghavi and Jonathan Rossiter |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://data.bris.ac.uk/data/dataset/n08fth26gqjn2txmgx2e04q75/ |
Title | Data for ElectroPneumatic Pump paper 2021 |
Description | Inlcuded here are data to support the paper: R. S. Diteesawat, T. Helps, M. Taghavi, J. Rossiter, Electro-pneumatic pumps for soft robotics. Sci. Robot. 6, eabc3721 (2021). |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://data.bris.ac.uk/data/dataset/2v49dy7vowv8924ryb4dyd115p/ |
Title | Data for Snail Robot paper 2021 |
Description | Included here are data to support the paper: T. Yue, H. Bloomfield-Gadêlha, J. Rossiter, Friction-driven Three-foot Robot Inspired by Snail Movement 2021 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://data.bris.ac.uk/data/dataset/23v6ekzwmvyop25xedxf66epjk/ |
Title | Data from Electro-origami SciRob 2018 (12-2018) |
Description | Support data for Science Robotics paper: Electro-ribbon actuators and electro-origami robots Taghavi M, Helps T, Rossiter J Science Robotics, December 2018 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Title | Data from Electro-ribbon Control 2020 (09-2020) |
Description | This folder contains data presented in 'Closed-loop Control of Electro-ribbon Actuators', published in 'Frontiers in Robotics and AI' Authors: R.S. Diteesawat, A. Fishman, T. Helps, M. Taghavi and J. Rossiter from University of Bristol. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://data.bris.ac.uk/data/dataset/2sv1xtrsmhoro2qu3io2u244ig/ |
Title | Data from Soft Matter Computing (08-2019) |
Description | Supporting data for paper: A soft matter computer for soft robots M.Garrad, G.Soter, A.T.Conn, H.Hauser and J.Rossiter Science Robotics 2019 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Title | Liquid Metal Logic |
Description | Included here are data to support the paper: M. Garrad, H.Y. C, A. T. Conn, H. Hauser, J. Rossiter, Liquid Metal Logic for Soft Robotics. IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (2021). |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://data.bris.ac.uk/data/dataset/1x2rxzq7q9xcv22osl6vpg7bxp/ |
Title | Pump and Vibe 2021 |
Description | Data to support paper: Alice Haynes, Jonathan Lawry, Christopher Kent, Jonathan Rossiter FeelMusic: Enriching Our Emotive Experience of Music Through Audio-Tactile Mappings, Multimodal Technologies and Interaction, 2021 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://data.bris.ac.uk/data/dataset/1vj7fcw8m7gzl2uo35fsb3l4zn/ |
Title | Soft electro-pneumatic controller for soft robots |
Description | Included here are data to support the paper: M. Garrad, I. Feeney, A. Conn, J. Rossiter, M. Nemitz, H.Hauser, An all soft electro-pneumatic controller for soft robots IEEE Conference of Soft Robotics (RoboSoft) |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://data.bris.ac.uk/data/dataset/1lwtezdrafm2e29fvz5dorzvj2/ |
Title | data for calming hug paper |
Description | This data supports the paper titled: "A calming hug: Design and validation of a tactile aid to ease anxiety" Authors: Haynes, A., Lywood, A., Crowe, E., Fielding, J., Rossiter, J., Kent, C. Contact: alice.haynes@bristol.ac.uk ======================================== The paper has been accepted for publication in PLoS ONE. ======================================== |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://data.bris.ac.uk/data/dataset/3cyviafgeukvg2b7umuuxo6639/ |
Description | BBC Bristol Radio interview on the LAZA flying robots |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Live interview on prime time BBC Bristol Radio to discuss the LAZA (Liquid Amplified Zipping Actuator) flapping wing robots and the future of safe ubiquitous flying robots. Result of work published in Science Robotics (02/2022). Broadcast to the BBC Bristol region. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | BBC Click programme |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | BBC Click programme interview and video article on the Right Trousers. Estimated audience (BBC figures) approx 340 million. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/technology-45552016/the-hi-tech-trousers-inspired-by-wallace-and-gromi... |
Description | BBC Earth film "Would modern robots be possible without nature? - Inspired By Nature" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview and filming at Bristol Robotics Laboratory for BBC Earth on the topic of future biomimetic robotics. Presents our research in the larger context of robots that are inspired by, and which mimic, natural organisms. International release through BBC Earth. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.facebook.com/bbcearth/videos/would-modern-robots-be-possible-without-nature-inspired-by-... |
Description | BBC Points West broadcast interview and article on the LAZA flying robots |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Live interview on prime time BBC West to demonstrate and discuss the LAZA (Liquid Amplified Zipping Actuator) flapping wing robots fabricated by the research team and published in Science Robotics (02/2022). Broadcast to the BBC West region. Also included specially recorded videos filmed at Bristol Robotics Laboratory. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | BBC Points West broadcast interview and article on the Robotic Trousers |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | BBC Points West broadcast interview and article on the Robotic Trousers. Broadcast across whole BBC West region and on BBC website. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-bristol-47002228/bristol-scientists-design-smart-trousers-w... |
Description | BBC Radio and Naked Scientist interview: Will robots become artificial organisms? |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview with the Naked Scientist podcast and BBC Radio Cambridgeshire on the topic of "Will robots become artificial organisms?". Based on the work of Rossiter on robotic artificial organisms. Discussed the challenges and consequences to health, environment, industry and society of robotic organisms. Naked Scientist podcast has a large international audience. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/interviews/will-robots-become-artificial-organisms |
Description | BBC Science article on Robotic Trousers |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | BBC Science article on our Robotic Trousers |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-45501069 |
Description | BBC TV Series - 6 Robots and us |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | On-screen robotics expert for BBC TV series, 6 robots and us. 6 research robots were placed in family homes and filmed. My role was to analyse all footage, behaviours and interactions and to comment on the challenges, technologies and impact or robotics in the home. Extensive on-screen presence. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09l63d2 |
Description | Bristol - Gadget Show Live |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Bristol set up a Soft Robotics stand at 2016 Gadget Show Live, the largest technology show in the UK 31 Mar - 3 Apr. This stand showed 5 hands-on soft robotics demonstrators and was manned by 5 member at all time (including PI and researchers on this grant). Included dedicated soft wearable robotics demonstration from this grant. The event was attended by approx. 150,000 people. We estimate that we spoke to, and demonstrated out technologies to, over 4000 people at our stand. PI (Rossiter) also gave a talk on soft robotic wearable technologies in the Connect Arena, with an audience of approx. 500. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Bristol - Sun Article |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Centre-page spread in the Sun newspaper, 29-09-2015 on wearable robotics and articles on this smart trousers project and on PI (Rossiter) on soft robotic bionic devices. Approx. circulation 2 million |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Bristol - TED Talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | PI (Rossiter) gave a TEDx at Warwick on 5 March 2016 which was then selected by TED to be elevated to the top spot on the main TED.COM website on 22 Feb 2017. In the last 3 weeks (up to researchfish submission closure) the talk had been viewed 694,635 times. This was the only TExWarwick talk to be elevated and it is extremely rare to be elevated to the top spot of TED.COM. Only about 100 talks from around the worlds are selected for this. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_rossiter_a_robot_that_eats_pollution |
Description | CBS broadcast on Robotic Trousers |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | USA Broadcast article on our Right Trousers technologies. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.cbsnews.com/news/robotic-pants-to-aid-mobility-replace-wheelchairs-researchers-say/ |
Description | Interview with Soft Robotics Podcast on flying micro robots |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview with the Soft Robotics Podcast by Jonathan Rossiter, discussing the state-of-the-art and future of flying micro robots and flapping wing robotics at the small scale. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE4R30LzwXI |
Description | Invited talk at ICRA 2022 on Determining Appropriate Metrics and Test Methods for Soft Actuators in Robotic Systems |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited talk entitled "Should you trust a soft robot? From actuation and energy metrics to trustworthiness in soft robotics" at the ICRA 2022 workshop on Determining Appropriate Metrics and Test Methods for Soft Actuators in Robotic Systems, 23 May 2022, Philadelphia, USA. Presenting our latest technology and user-centred approach to soft robotics in the context of trustworthy autonomous systems. A key challenge discussed is the measurement of trust given the common uncertainty of soft robotic behaviours and control. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://sites.google.com/andrew.cmu.edu/softactuatormetrics/ |
Description | Invited talk at the EPSRC UK-Swiss Mixed Reality in Soft Robotics |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited talk to the EPSRC UK-Swiss Mixed Reality in Soft Robotics workshop 8-9 December 2022, Cambridge UK. Presentation and discussion about the emerging use, and potential, for mixed reality in robotic systems with emphasis on soft robotics. Aiming to increase UK-Swiss collaboration. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://birlab.org/workshop-on-soft-robotics-for-mixed-reality/ |
Description | Invited talk to ICRA 2022 workshop on Leverating Advancements in Smart Materials Science |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Invited talk at the ICRA 2022 workshop on Leveraging Advancements in Smart Materials Science: Soft Robots Gaining New Abilities Through Smart and Functional Materials, 27 May 2022, Philadelphia USA. Presenting talk entitled "From smart materials to trustworthy soft robots - flapping, gripping and squeezing" outlining our latest technologies to world leaders in soft robotics. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.spp2100.de/icra2022 |
Description | Invited talk to RoboSoft 2022 workshop on Embodied Intelligence |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited talk titled "Embodied Intelligent Organisms, Trustworthiness and Realismor, trusting your senses" at the RoboSoft 2022 workshop on Embodied Intelligence, 4 April 2022, Edinburgh, UK. A very dynamic even including talks, panel discussions and brainstorming how soft robotics can embrace more of the emerging field of embodied intelligence. Talks from leaders around the world. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://birlab.org/embodied-intelligence-workshop-in-robosoft-2022/ |
Description | Invited talk to the 2022 Cutting Edge Laryngology conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited talk to the Cutting Edge Laryngology 2022 conference, 22 September 2022, the conference of the British Laryngological Association. Talk title: From laryngeal dysfunction to power clothing - routes to restoring mobility and independence with soft robots. This provided an important platform for the presentation and discussion of our recent developments in implantable soft robotics to address unmet healthcare needs, here in the context of laryngeal dysfunction and wearable robotics. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.britishlaryngological.org/event/cutting-edge-laryngology-2022 |