SMART workshop 2: Integration smart materials in soft robotics
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS NOW CLOSED
A downloadable version of the programme could be accessed HERE.
This time the SMART ITN offers a multidisciplinary training by combining two emerging fields of smart materials and soft robots with meaningful societal and economic impact (T-model).
The second training event will be organised either virtually (ZOOM) or physically if the current quarantine situation will be eased on 16 – 18 MARCH 2021.
The topic is “Integration smart materials in soft robotics” including training sessions on Science Communication and Fundraising skills.
Please note, participation is free. However, one’s registration details should include a motivations statement that should provide your intentions on why you would like to participate in the SMART workshop.

Workshop Programme
Tuesday, 16 March 2021 Workshop Welcome 09:00-09:15 Frank Clemens: Welcome and short overview Empa 09:15-09:30 Bram Vanderborght: Introduction SMART project Session 1 ‘Elastomers’: Frank Clemens 09:30-10:30 Dorina Opris: Functional elastomers 10:30-11:30 Coffee break 11:30-12:30 Frank Nüesch: Printable and stretchable electronics 12:30-13:30 Lunch Session 2 ‘Nanoparticles and functional fillers’: Guy Van Assche 13:30-14:30 Thomas Graule: Synthesis of Nanoparticles and surface modification 14:30-15:30 Frank Clemens: Introduction to Sensing Materials Part II – Magnetic Soft Sensors and Actuators 15:30-16:00 Coffee break Session 3 ‘EAP based applications’: Dorina Opris 16:00-17:00 Gabor Kovacs: Industrial manufacturing of EAP transducers 17:00-18:00 Herb Shea: Soft Machines Driven by Electrostatic Forces Wednesday, 17 March 2021 Session 4 ‘Self-healing materials and robot applications’: Sandra Schlögl 09:00-10:00 Sandra Schlögl: Additive manufacturing with vitrimers 10:00-10:30 Coffee break 10:30-11:30 Bilge Baytekin: Stimuli responsive materials for plant robots 11:30-12:30 Joost Brancart/Seppe Terryn: Combined mechanisms for self-healing soft sensors and actuators 12.30-13:30: Lunch Session 5 ‘Scientific Skills 1’: Bilge Baytekin 13:30-14:30 Jochen Bihn: Open Access Publications 14:30-15:30 Anusch Bachofner: FAIR Data principle and openBIS system – Data management requested from public funding agencies 15:30-16:00 Coffee Break Session 6 ‘Scientific Skills 2’: Tonny Bosman 16:00-17:00 Andreas Kündig: Basics on patent applications 17:00-18:00 Pietro Lura/Manfred Heuberger: Bibliometrics and writing a good paper Thursday, 18 March 2021 Session 7 ‘Soft Robot Controlling’: Fumiya Iida 09:00-10:00 Egidio Falotico: Model-free controllers for soft manipulators 10:00-10:30 Coffee break 10:30-11:30 Thomas George: Learning based modelling and control of nonlinear time-variant materials 11:30-12:30 Robert Shepherd: Self-healing Photomechanical Systems 12.30-13:30: Lunch Session 8 ‘Soft and Biomimetic Robots 1’: Matteo Cianchetti 13:30-14:30 Mirko Kovac: Physical artificial intelligence 14:30-15:30 Ardian Jusufi: Soft active materials enable transport in/of fluids, proprioceptive sensing, and mechanical feedback in biomimetic robots 15:30-16:00 Coffee Break Session 8 ‘Soft and Biomimetic Robots 1’: Maarja Kruusmaa 16:00-17:00 Gilles Decroly: Programmable Stimuli-Responsive Actuators for Complex Motions in Soft Robotics 17:00-18:00 Christoph Keplinger: HASEL Artificial Muscles—Versatile High-Performance Actuators for Bioinspired Robotics |
A personal invitation with a link to ZOOM will be communicated shortly prior to the event.
Thank you very much for your interest in the SMART programme!