Project Mechanics and materials of electrically-driven soft robots Program Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Research Program Term Summer 2025 Status Closed Research Area mechanics, robotics Description Polymer-based actuators are being sought for applications such as humanoid robotics and materials that change their properties on demand (tunable metamaterials). Our lab develops actuators with higher force outputs and designs arrays of actuators with improved actuation properties. Supervisor Alex Chortos Mentor Type of work required Polymer-based actuators typically have lower force outputs and response speeds compared to conventional actuators. To improve these metrics, it's important to understand the electrical and mechanical properties of the materials and device structures that are used in the devices. This requires experiments that include:
-Testing and developing new materials
-Understanding mechanics using finite element simulations
-Fabricating and testing devices with different parameters (size, shape, etc.)

For controlling arrays of devices, it's necessary to have a control system that can output multiple voltage signals to turn on and off the devices. This work includes:
-Assembling circuits and multiplexers
-Designing algorithms that can apply appropriate input signals and measure sensing signals Websites https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/sciadv.adg8019 Qualifications No particular skills are required. Credit Hours 3 Weekly Hours 10 (estimated)