As robotic and mechatronic technologies become increasingly pervasive in our daily lives and work environments, the forms taken by robots are undergoing an evolution, progressively becoming more similar to living beings, or more highly integrated into objects of common use. Motivated by this vision, this area looks at novel robotic paradigms and applications, with a special focus on:
1) Soft robots, based on compliant joints, distributed sensing/actuation features, and the capability to interact with the external environment softly.
2) Smart garments and wearable electronic devices, capable of measuring physiological parameters and interacting with the subject wearing them.
The activities within this area approach the topic of robotics from a system perspective, with particular emphasis on the integration and application of components and materials into complex systems. Technologies and topics of interest for this area include robotic structures with embodied intelligence, multifunctional materials applications, modelling and control of soft/continuum robots, and active material systems.
