Soft materials are revolutionizing technology, facilitating advancements in creating new robotic elements (actuators) and sensors inspired by nature. They can mimic biological activity, such as octopus or plant motion. You will learn more about these inspirational sources, explore actuation principles, and experience the fascinating mechanics of soft actuators and sensors.

What kind of special design aspects are required and is there a wide range of applications? How can soft sensors be utilized to improve accessibility in our world? What are the potential artistic applications? When using soft materials, we need to re-think conventional concepts of rigid robots and sensors.

Although material flexibility can be challenging, it simultaneously facilitates entirely new mechanisms and actuation principles. Put your creativity to work and design your own concept to create a soft actuator while also taking potential applications approaches into account.

What are soft actuators and sensors? Where do they get their inspiration from? What makes them different from their counterparts?

What are the potential applications of soft actuators and sensors? Where can their mechanical properties perform particularly well?

How do you design and build a soft robotic element and a soft sensor? What are the available manufacturing technologies and processes?

Alongside students in other majors, you will immerse yourself into the world of soft actuators and sensors. During the hands-on sessions, you will construct your own soft actuators and sensors and incorporate them with each other. You will use the machines available in the lab, such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and speed mixers.

This course has been designed to expand your understanding of soft actuators and sensors and focuses on materials, mechanics, design, and applications.