Currently, our research on enabling technologies includes sensors and actuators inspired by biological principles. Experimental applications include medical soft robots, and specifically assistive soft arms for eldercare, as well as robots for monitoring the marine ecosystem. This research relies on multidisciplinary expertise in mechanical design, fabrication technologies, modelling and control.
An ITALY – SINGAPORE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION aimed at studying muscular hydrostats. Muscular hydrostats work inside (e.g., octopus arms) and outside (e.g., elephant trunks) water, but nature evolved different muscular structures for the different environments. This project aims to comparatively unveil the key principles of muscular hydrostats, for robotics purposes. We include biological studies and advanced modeling techniques, and we rely on the soft robotics technologies and materials available at the institutions in Singapore and Italy for comparatively testing robotic muscular hydrostats. A soft arm prototype will be used for a joint study on its use, taking advantage of a teleoperation platform available in Singapore. Thanks to the expertise of teams in Italy and Singapore on related neuroscience, the study will focus on how a human brain can control a soft arm with completely different shape and dexterity.
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Start Date: 7/1/2023
End Date: 6/30/2026
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REBOT aims to demonstrate that octopus-inspired strategies are more efficient for manipulation in water. We aim at first demonstrating it mathematically, with models and simulations. Then we test our findings ecperimentally with an octopus-inspired soft robot arm.Our results can bring a revolutionary impact on underwater robotics, by providing efficient and effective grasping strategies that can increase underwater robot adoption.Possible applications span from off-shore industry to biology and oceanography.
Start Date: 8/1/2022
End Date: 7/31/2025
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W. Xin, F. Zhu, P. Wang, and et al, Electrical Impedance Tomographic Shape Sensing for Soft Robots, IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 1555-1562, IEEE, 27-01-2023
G. Mengaldo, F. Renda, S. Brunton, and et al, A concise guide to modelling the physics of embodied intelligence in soft robotics, Nature Reviews Physics, pp. 595-610, Nature Publishing Group UK, 09-2022
We take a bioinspired approach to investigate abilities that robots do not have yet, leveraging on the potential of soft robotics technologies. We mostly address marine species and the benthic area, to create robots with different locomotion patterns, new forms of grasping and manipulation, shape adaptation. They have potential to accomplish diverse tasks of exploration of benthic areas and intervention in industrial plants, e.g., monitoring, sampling, maintenance, others.
Start Date: 4/1/2021
End Date: 3/31/2025
W. Xin, F. Zhu, P. Wang, and et al, Electrical Impedance Tomographic Shape Sensing for Soft Robots, IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 1555-1562, IEEE, 27-01-2023
G. Mengaldo, F. Renda, S. Brunton, and et al, A concise guide to modelling the physics of embodied intelligence in soft robotics, Nature Reviews Physics, pp. 595-610, Nature Publishing Group UK, 09-2022
An NRF Medium-Size Center, established in March 2021 and funded for 5 years.At NUS, we investigate robots for eldercare and the Soft Robotics Lab contributes with assistive soft robots designed after our users' need.
At NUS, we aim at answering the following question: Can robots help with the growing need for assistance to our ageing citizens? We believe that assistive robots can help seniors have a longer active life. We adopt a user-centred design (UCD) approach to ensure that we respond to the needs of elderly and caregivers, and ultimately promote a wide adoption of robots.
Read more about CARTIN ->
Start Date: 3/30/2021
End Date: 3/29/2026
W. Xin, F. Zhu, P. Wang, and et al, Electrical Impedance Tomographic Shape Sensing for Soft Robots, IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 1555-1562, IEEE, 27-01-2023
Z. Tang, P. Wang, W. Xin, and et al, Learning-Based Approach for a Soft Assistive Robotic Arm to Achieve Simultaneous Position and Force Control, IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 8315-8322, IEEE, 27-06-2022
G. Mengaldo, F. Renda, S. Brunton, and et al, A concise guide to modelling the physics of embodied intelligence in soft robotics, Nature Reviews Physics, pp. 595-610, Nature Publishing Group UK, 09-2022
P. Wang, Z. Tang, W. Xin, and et al, Design and Experimental Characterization of a Push-Pull Flexible Rod-Driven Soft-Bodied Robot, IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 8933-8940, IEEE, 08-07-2022
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An interdisciplinary program of SMART, MIT’s research enterprise in Singapore, aimed to study the introduction of AI and robots in the society. The research at M3S addresses critical questions concerning the design of technology, the development of human skills, and the adaptation of institutions and social structures to effectively navigate the transformative impact of AI, automation, and robotics.
About M3S | SMART| Singapore (mit.edu)
Start Date: 7/1/2023
End Date: 6/30/2028
