About event
Soft robotics is a multidisciplinary field that links different research fields, such as chemistry, materials science, mechanical engineering, instrumentation and control, and artificial intelligence. During the last decade, the development of novel materials and fabrication techniques has been two of the major challenges for further progress in soft robotics. Soft materials with programmable integrated sensing and actuating capabilities that can be scaled down (or up) by various fabrication techniques are highly desirable for the fabrication of soft robots with a reduced number, size, and weight of components.
In this seminar, I will talk about the importance of liquid crystalline materials in the design and fabrication of soft robots and their components. I will present our recent progress in the development of artificial muscles and robotic constructs from LC materials that can be remotely stimulated by a variety of cues, such as heat, light, and electrical fields, at different scales and media. I will also present opportunities to create novel solutions or augment the existing capabilities of microscale robotic systems with an emphasis on their future biomedical applications.
