MIE1725H: Soft Robotics

The future of smart manufacturing will depend on integrating multi-functional materials and devices. Flexible sensors, actuators and energy devices will help as a platform in sharing information as well as multitasking. Interacting smart systems will change how the manufacturing industry operates, enhance automation (IOT) (Industry 4.0). Soft materials are a class of materials characterized by their unique flexible and malleable properties that can be easy to deform and manufacture with distinct multifunctional properties. They can be used in a wide range of applications since they can exceed the current abilities of traditional materials especially in new devices and machines including sensors, actuators, energy devices, wearables and textiles. This course is designed to provide an integrated and complete knowledge to soft materials and machines, which makes a strong foundation for further studies and research on these materials and devices. Topics include structure, processing, properties of soft materials; definition of soft devices and machines; Processing and design; Applications of soft material and machines: Soft Sensors and E-skins, Soft Actuators and Robotics, Flexible Energy Storage, Flexible Energy Harvesting, Self healing and Adhesion, Wearables and Textiles.

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