Research
The research in Biomedical Robotics Laboratory focuses on the design, fabrication, control, and application of novel robotic systems for genuine biomedical applications.
Design
Miniature robots pose unique challenges in design as a result of the lack of onboard space to carry traditional robotic components such as computing units and batteries. Novel design approaches utilize the so-called “physical intelligence” to achieve stimuli-responsiveness and further realize robotic functionalities. These robots are often in the forms of untethered miniaturized systems such as capsules and wearable devices. When being deployed inside human bodies, biocompatibility and biodegradability should be taken into consideration early in the design phase.
#Untethered_Robot #Wearable_Devices
Fabrication
The fabrication strategies for miniature robots are limited in the degree-of-freedom in materials, geometries, and other properties. Novel fabrication platforms aim to relax and ultimately remove these constraints to physically realize designs with sophisticated capabilities to meet demanding real-world challenges.
#3D_Printing #Microfabrication
Control
Reliable and accurate control of miniature robots is the key to enable them to work in complex real-world environments. Computer vision-based autonomous controllers are developed and deployed for these robots in various applications. When deployed inside human bodies, the feedback information available is extremely limited and obscured, in which scenarios accurate and reliable actuation and control of these robots are challenging and should be investigated.
#Feedback_Control #Artificial_Intelligence
Application
The usefulness of these novel robots boils down to their applications in our real world. Thanks to their miniature body size, they hold revolutionary potentials in minimally invasive diagnostics and therapeutics, such as targeted drug delivery and minimally invasive surgery. The exploration of their genuine biomedical applications is carried out in our lab.
#Healthcare_Robotics #Minimally_Invasive_Surgery
Extended Information
My thoughts on the motivation for small-scale robotics Link