PhD Studentship in Mechanical Design and Characterization of Materials for the Fabrication of Soft-Bodied Robot Components, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Italy

Ph.D. Thesis: Mechanical design and characterization of materials for the fabrication of “soft-bodied” robot components

Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) - www.iit.it - via Morego 30, 16167 Genova (Italy)
This Ph.D. thesis proposal originates from the collaboration of the IIT Nanobiotechnology Facility with the ICub Robotic Platform of the IIT Robotics Department. Within the framework of the transition from the so called “hard-bodied” robot to the “soft-bodied” robot, new materials should be used to better approach a human behaviour.

The proposed project, in particular, focuses on the design and the mechanical testing of novel composite materials for the assembling of a brand new hand for I-Cub, which is consider as a first basic step towards the mentioned transition. The hand is a crucial component for the I-Cub robot, functional to the implementation of learning and interaction mechanisms that are one of the main purposes of the platform. It is in the hand that the number of mobile parts and sensing and actuating devices reach the higher density and, hence, potential failure. The new design will include not only the essential skeletal and mobility components, but seamlessly includes actuation, sensing and signaling components.

A basic knowledge of polymers/composites science and mechanics of materials is required for the candidate.

For further details concerning the research project, please contact: alberto.barone[ at ]iit.it

Link : http://www.iit.it/media/call/Annex-A4-DEF.pdf