Introduction to Soft Robotics for Industry
Soft robotics is a new field of research that dramatically extends the design toolbox of conventional robotics by using soft materials like polymers, silicone, hydrogels, smart materials, etc. to build a new generation of autonomous systems. As a result, soft robotics can offer new solutions for problems in industry that are currently not solvable with conventional approaches.
This workshop is an introduction to the field geared towards participants from industry, who want to learn more about the potential of the field for their industrial sector. It consists of introductory talks, presentations of successful industry collaborations, and panel discussions.
This event is part of the UK-RAS Network Robotics Summer Showcase (#RobotShowcase), a 3-month programme of events for members of the RAS community working in academia, industry, and policy.
Joining
The workshop can be joined using the following info:
Link: https://bristol-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/2454351490?pwd=MStUbWM4TkFsa0hiS1ZtRXI0RlBjUT09
Meeting-ID: 245 435 1490
Password: 294371
Workshop
This 1.5 days workshop is completely free and will take place on Monday and Tuesday 28th-29th June 2021. The first day is from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM, the second day from 9:00 AM to 12:00 (noon).
Before coming to the workshop
Before coming to the workshop we would like you to fill out a very short questionnaire. This will help us to gear the workshop to the needs of the participants. It’s just 5 questions and shouldn’t take longer than 1 minute.
How to register?
You can sign up for the event through our EventBrite webpage.
Workshop agenda
The workshop will be a mixture of introductory talks on different aspects of soft robotics, interactive Q&A sessions, break out rooms and panel discussions.
Day 1 (Monday, June 28):
9:00 – 9:15 Welcome and Introduction (Helmut Hauser)
9:15 – 9:40 What is soft robotics? (Kaspar Althoefer)
9:40 – 10:05 Introduction to modelling and control of soft systems (Adam Stokes)
10:05 – 10:30 Introduction to soft actuation (Andrew Conn)
10:30 – 10:45 Coffee break
10:45 – 11:30 Soft Robotics Academic lightning talks. For academics to introduce the focus of their lab and any core tech
11:30 – 12:00 Breakout rooms - to discuss industrial problems and answer any questions with experts from soft robotics. Presented by both partners.
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch (Break out rooms will be kept open)
13:00 – 13:40 Collaboration talk - Example of successful collaboration between Academia and Industry in Soft Robotics - (Thrishantha Nanayakkara / Clinical Partner)
13:45 – 14:25 Collaboration talk - Example of successful collaboration between Academia and Industry in Soft Robotics - (Nathan Lepora / Ultraleap)
14:25 – 14:30 End of day remarks (Helmut Hauser)
Day 2 (Tuesday, June 29th)
9:00 – 9:15 Welcome and introduction (Helmut Hauser)
9:15 – 9:40 Introduction to soft sensing (Perla Maiolino)
9:40 – 10:20 Collaboration talk - Example of successful collaboration between Academia and Industry in Soft Robotics - (Fumiya Iida & Partner)
10:20 – 10:35 Coffee break
[CANCELLED] 10:35 – 11:20 Panel discussion and Q&A “The future of soft robotics in industry”
10:35 – 11:20 Breakout rooms
11:20 - 11:30 Summary and closing remarks (Helmut Hauser)
Confirmed Speakers
Kaspar Althoefer, Head of Centre for Advanced Robotics (ARQ), Queen Mary University of London, Twitter: @KasparAlthoefer
Helmut Hauser, Director of the CDT for Robotics and Autonomous Systems FARSCOPE , University of Bristol, Twitter: @morphcomp
Nathan Lepora, Professor of Robotics and AI, University of Bristol, Twitter: @nathanlepora
Thrishantha Nanayakkara, Director of Morph Lab, Imperial College London, Twitter: @thrishlab
Andrew Conn, Senior Lecturer, University of Bristol
Perla Maiolino, Associate Professor, University of Oxford
Adam Stokes, Reader, University of Edinburgh, Twitter: @adamastokes
Fumiya Iida, Reader in Robotics, University of Cambridge