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Seminar: Advancing Miniature Soft Robotics Towards Complex Fluidic Environments
Dr. Tianlu Wang
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering UHM
*In-person (BIOMD T208) & via Zoom*
Zoom Meeting Link
Meeting ID: 235 549 0320
Passcode: ORE
Soft robotics represents a rapidly advancing field in which machines are constructed from flexible, compliant materials and structures that allow safer, more adaptive interactions with living systems and the environment. In this seminar, I will present our recent progress in the design, fabrication, modeling, and control of small-scale bio-inspired soft robots, drawing inspiration from animals including larval fish, jellyfish, and inchworms. These advances enable novel modes of locomotion and functions in fluidic environments that are difficult for conventional rigid-bodied robots to reach. I will then highlight potential applications in environmental monitoring, sample collection, and remediation, particularly in remote or hazardous settings where human access is limited. Finally, I will outline remaining challenges and emerging opportunities that may define the next phase of soft robotics research for new applications in the complex fluidic environments.