We have a vacancy for a technician, with a background in polymer chemistry, liquid crystal polymers or electronics and prototype design, for projects in the field of advanced materials for soft robotic haptic wearable applications at the Human Interactive Materials (HIM) group in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), The Netherlands.
Research backgroundSoft robotic haptics is a relatively new subfield of robotics, focusing on designing compliant material systems to communicate with human users through tactile signals. When integrated into conventional electronics, soft robotic haptics systems have the potential for major impact where immersion, tactile dynamism and safe human/machine interactions are crucial, such as in navigational assistive wearables and virtual reality systems. Moreover, soft robotic haptics can introduce a sense of touch in devices where switchable, high-resolution and local tactile communication is unprecedented, such as touchscreen displays, car steering wheels with haptic warning systems, haptic control handles for remotely operated surgical robots, and e-readers for visually impaired users.
Figure 1. Conceptual illustration of the
proposed wearable liquid crystal polymer
device, which can be worn as a ring, bracelet,
armband, or necklace.At the HIM group, we perform research on stimuli-responsive liquid crystal polymers to achieve such advanced haptic functions. We envision creating materials that can feel, sense, behave and act as human skins within a wearable, yet with enhanced sensitivity and accuracy. They must be electrically-integrated, making them compatible with the electrical infrastructure for conventional devices, as illustrated in Figure 1. With long-term development we anticipate the creation of revolutionary, self-developing soft robotic haptics within wearables.
Project descriptionYou will be joining a multidisciplinary research group, where we develop responsive materials that address the continuously advancing needs in human-machine communication, specialized medicine and miniaturized mechanics. More information can be found at
www.danqingliu.nl.
A key aspect of our projects is to translate molecular effects into macroscopic phenomena which, in turn, translate into robotic devices for, but not limited to, haptic applications. You will join a team where your research will be driving the development of our liquid crystal polymers towards optimized sensing and actuation functions for switchable and directional haptics within a wearable through multiple potential mechanisms, including squeezing, shear, local pressure and directional friction, as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. LCP actuation and wearables principles that generate various tactile modes.
(a) LCP anisotropic deformations. (b) Squeeze function. (c) Shear function. (d) Local pressure.
(e) Directional friction.