Materials: Soft Functional Materials for Bio-Robotics
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Engineering
Abstract
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Organisations
- University of Cambridge (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Cambridge (Collaboration)
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) (Collaboration)
- University of Surrey (Collaboration)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- University of Oxford (Collaboration)
- Swiss Federal Inst of Technology (EPFL) (Project Partner)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Fumiya Iida (Principal Investigator) |
| Description | Research of soft material robotics has a range of significant impact not only in conventional robotics industry, but also in emerging areas such as mixed reality and food industry. This project allowed us to explore these new domains for future collaborations in these new areas. |
| Exploitation Route | We are proposing a few different research grant proposals to follow up the ideas discussed. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Electronics Healthcare Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology |
| URL | https://birlab.org/workshop-on-soft-robotics-for-mixed-reality/ |
| Description | Scalable tactile sensing based on Electrical Impedance Tomography for dexterous multi-tool use |
| Amount | £1,526,589 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Advanced Research and Innovation Agency (ARIA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2025 |
| End | 09/2028 |
| Description | Collaboration with Dr Thrish Nanayakkara and Prof Etienne Burdet of Imperial College. Prof Simon de Lusignan of Surrey University. |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Organization of joint workshop and preparation of technologies presented. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Organization of joint workshop and preparation of technologies presented. |
| Impact | Joint workshop with practitioners at University of Surrey to test the developed technologies. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Collaboration with Dr Thrish Nanayakkara and Prof Etienne Burdet of Imperial College. Prof Simon de Lusignan of Surrey University. |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Organization of joint workshop and preparation of technologies presented. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Organization of joint workshop and preparation of technologies presented. |
| Impact | Joint workshop with practitioners at University of Surrey to test the developed technologies. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Collaboration with Tamar Makin |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Department | Cambridge Neuroscience |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Research collaboration has started based on this workshop with Prof Tamar Makin at the University of Cambridge. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Research platforms, know-hows, and researchers have conducted an experimental project in the context of Cambridge Observatory for Human Machine Collabration project. |
| Impact | A small funding support was acquired through the Cambridge University Seed Fund project, to carry out this collaborative research project, in the context of neuroscience and robotics. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Collaborations with Prof Perla Maiolino at Oxford University |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Department | Oxford Hub |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Experimental research and collaborative publications based on the sensor technologies of the partner. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provide the technological expertise in tactile sensing and data analysis for the experimental research and publications. |
| Impact | Model-Free Soft-Structure Reconstruction for Proprioception Using Tactile Arrays. L Scimeca, J Hughes, P Maiolino, F Iida. IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters 4 (3), 2479-248, 2019 |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Josie Hughes (EPFL) |
| Organisation | Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We presented our research achievement at the partner institution for collaborative discussions. We also co-supervise research students. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner presented our research achievement at the partner institution for collaborative discussions. We also co-supervise research students. |
| Impact | We co-organized a workshop together at EPFL to discuss the challenges of soft robotics research. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Thilina Lalitharatne |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | A researcher visiting our lab for collaborative experimental research for the RoboPatient project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Experimental expertise and discussions for producing new research results |
| Impact | We have co-authored technical publications in robotics journals and conferences. We have co-supervised undergrad and postgrad research students. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | EPSRC Workshop on Soft Robotics for Mixed Reality |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Soft robotics is an emerging field that complements traditional robotics with a flexible structure that simplifies interaction with complex environments due to an excessive degree of freedom. During the past decade, the research primarily was focusing on the development of stand-alone soft robots. Recently, soft robotics techniques have been found useful as an interface for interaction with Virtual and Mixed realities. We decided to explore Embodied Intelligence in the design of soft interfaces including human factors. The purpose of this workshop is to establish collaboration for exploring different areas of research in EI and Robotics. Renowned Robotics speakers from the UK and Switzerland will be giving talks on haptic interfaces and wearable robotics. We would like to invite Ph.D. students and postdoctoral researchers to attend and engage in discussions with the speakers, present their posters and collect constructive comments on their workshop projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://birlab.org/workshop-on-soft-robotics-for-mixed-reality/ |
| Description | Presentation at All Party Parliamentary Engineering Group Lunch Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This is the lunch event organized by Lord Robert Mair at West Minster in London, to invite 100 secondary school pupils along with some Members of Parliament to discuss the current and future of robotics research and industry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://appeg.co.uk |
| Description | Workshop on Soft Robotics and Embodied AI for Food and Home Applications |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | June 29-30th, 2023 This 2-day workshop will explore the opportunities and challenges for robotics and embodied AI in food and home applications, whilst providing young researchers the opportunity to present their work. Robotics and embodied intelligence has a significant impact to play in food and home applications. This 2-day workshop will explore the opportunities and challenges for robotics and embodied AI in these application areas, whilst providing young researchers the opportunity to present their work. Relevant topics include (but are not limited to): Soft robotics technologies Wearables and assistive devices Cooking/food optimization robots Robotic Food Soft robotics for Agri-Food Robotics for domestic and in home environments Soft robotics & embodied Intelligence |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.epfl.ch/labs/create/workshop-on-robotics-and-embodied-ai-for-food-and-home-applications/ |