Mechanical design and characterization of materials for the fabrication of “soft-bodied” robot components, PhD Thesis, Italy

Mechanical design and characterization of materials for the fabrication of “soft-bodied” robot components

Description : This Ph.D. thesis proposal originates from the collaboration of the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) Nanobiotechnology Labs with the ICub Robotic Platform of the IIT Robotics Department. Within the framework of the transition from the so called “hard-bodied” robot to the “soft-bodied” robot, new materials should be used to better approach a human behaviour. The proposed project, in particular, focuses on the design and the mechanical testing of novel composite materials for the assembling of a brand new hand for I-Cub, which is consider as a first basic step towards the mentioned transition. The hand is a crucial component for the I-Cub robot, functional to the implementation of learning and interaction mechanisms that are one of the main purposes of the platform. It is in the hand that the number of mobile parts and sensing and actuating devices reach the higher density and, hence, potential failure. The new design will include not only the essential skeletal and mobility components, but seamlessly includes actuation, sensing and signaling components. A basic knowledge of polymers/composites science and mechanics of materials is required for the candidate.

Homepage : http://www.iit.it/media/call/Annex-A4-DEF.pdf
Category : Nanoscience – Ph. D. Thesis
Contact address : Alberto Barone Nanophysics Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia – IIT via Morego 30 – 16163 Genova (Italy)
Keywords : mechanics, composites, materials science