We are seeking a motivated student to develop an electro-adhesion skin for a humanoid robotic hand. Electro-adhesion is a mechanism based on the polarization of materials, which generates an electrostatic attraction force, improving the adhesion and increasing the friction between objects. This electrically controlled adhesion method is reversible, tunable and low power and can be effective on both conducting and insulating materials.
The electro-adhesion mechanism will be used to build a robotic hand whose skin can adhere to objects. Applying electro-adhesion capabilities to a humanoid robotic hand could have many advantages, it could improve grasp efficiency and stability, and it could ease the grasp of challenging materials like paper and textiles by better defining the contact state at the level of robotic fingers interface.
Your task will be to take the existing knowledge on the manufacturing of electro-adhesion pads at the Soft Robotics Lab and apply it to the skin of a robotic hand. If successful, this would constitute the first prototype of a new generation of humanoid robotic hand featuring enhanced grasp abilities.
This project is suitable for students with a strong background in mechatronic design, robotics, soft materials and thin-film manufacturing, and ideally electrostatic fields. The project will require a combination of hands-on work, as well as theoretical and computational analysis. If you are interested in this project and believe you have the skills and motivation to contribute, we encourage you to apply.
We are seeking a motivated student to develop an electro-adhesion skin for a humanoid robotic hand. Electro-adhesion is a mechanism based on the polarization of materials, which generates an electrostatic attraction force, improving the adhesion and increasing the friction between objects. This electrically controlled adhesion method is reversible, tunable and low power and can be effective on both conducting and insulating materials.
The electro-adhesion mechanism will be used to build a robotic hand whose skin can adhere to objects. Applying electro-adhesion capabilities to a humanoid robotic hand could have many advantages, it could improve grasp efficiency and stability, and it could ease the grasp of challenging materials like paper and textiles by better defining the contact state at the level of robotic fingers interface.
Your task will be to take the existing knowledge on the manufacturing of electro-adhesion pads at the Soft Robotics Lab and apply it to the skin of a robotic hand. If successful, this would constitute the first prototype of a new generation of humanoid robotic hand featuring enhanced grasp abilities.
This project is suitable for students with a strong background in mechatronic design, robotics, soft materials and thin-film manufacturing, and ideally electrostatic fields. The project will require a combination of hands-on work, as well as theoretical and computational analysis. If you are interested in this project and believe you have the skills and motivation to contribute, we encourage you to apply.
1. Conduct a literature review on electro-adhesion technology and robotic skins to determine the best designs for grasping.
2. Design and fabricate electro-adhesion pads integrated in a soft robotic skin in the FIRST-CLA cleanroom facilities.
3. Build a setup to accurately measure the electro-adhesion force and compare it to literature.
4. Apply your electro-adhesion skin to the “Faive” humanoid robotics hand of the Soft Robotics Lab.
5. Achieve grasps and manipulation of objects with the combined electro-adhesion, hand and arm systems.
1. Conduct a literature review on electro-adhesion technology and robotic skins to determine the best designs for grasping. 2. Design and fabricate electro-adhesion pads integrated in a soft robotic skin in the FIRST-CLA cleanroom facilities. 3. Build a setup to accurately measure the electro-adhesion force and compare it to literature. 4. Apply your electro-adhesion skin to the “Faive” humanoid robotics hand of the Soft Robotics Lab. 5. Achieve grasps and manipulation of objects with the combined electro-adhesion, hand and arm systems.
▪ High motivation, problem-solving ability, and capability and desire to work independently
▪ Experience in mechatronics design
▪ Experience in CAD design
▪ Previous experience with PDMS bonding and/or thin film manufacturing is a plus
▪ High motivation, problem-solving ability, and capability and desire to work independently
▪ Experience in mechatronics design
▪ Experience in CAD design
▪ Previous experience with PDMS bonding and/or thin film manufacturing is a plus
Ronan Hinchet, rhinchet@ethz.ch, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, D-MAVT
Stephan-Daniel Gravert, sgravert@ethz.ch, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, D-MAVT
Prof. Robert Katzschmann, rkk@ethz.ch, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, D-MAVT
If you are interested, please submit a short motivational statement, your CV, transcripts, and one to two reference contacts. Applications via Sirop: https://srl.ethz.ch/education/student-projects.html.
Ronan Hinchet, rhinchet@ethz.ch, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, D-MAVT Stephan-Daniel Gravert, sgravert@ethz.ch, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, D-MAVT Prof. Robert Katzschmann, rkk@ethz.ch, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, D-MAVT
If you are interested, please submit a short motivational statement, your CV, transcripts, and one to two reference contacts. Applications via Sirop: https://srl.ethz.ch/education/student-projects.html.