Physically soft robots have applications to human-machine interfaces, wearable devices for human health, robotics, and novel properties for bioinspiration, grasping, and locomotion. Due to their continuum-like structures, an existing challenge in these applications is creating sensors for self- and external sensing (proprioception and exteroception) to facilitate control and reconfigurability. I will discuss some sensing-related challenges in these soft applications and present recent work that applies these concepts to origami robots, grippers, and wearable devices. I will also present work in enhancing the stability and mechanical selectivity of stretchable sensors and discuss applications for such sensors in wearable healthcare applications, soft robotics, and beyond.
Bio: Kris Dorsey is an associate professor in the departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Physical Therapy, Movement, and Rehabilitation Sciences and a core faculty member at the Institute for Experiential Robotics at Northeastern University. Previously, Dorsey was a faculty member in the Picker Engineering Program at Smith College and an MLK Visiting Associate Professor at the Media Lab at MIT. Dorsey graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering and earned her Bachelors of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Olin College. Dorsey’s current research interests include reconfigurable, novel morphology, and active soft sensors and the design of soft sensors for soft robot actuators and wearable medical and rehabilitation devices. Dorsey’s work has been recognized by an NSF CAREER award and the Emerging Leader ABIE Award in honor of Denice Denton.
If you are a Ph.D. student or Post-Doc and would like to join Kris for lunch, please sign up here
In addition, we’ll be hosting a Robotics Breakfast at 10:30 AM, also at the Maeder Hall. We are looking forward to seeing you there!
Accessibility Message from Kris: I strive to make my talks and work as accessible as possible. This talk will have auto-captions provided on the slides, I am happy to wear a clip-on mic for hearing aids, and attendees may request a digital copy or enlarged printed slides. Please allow 48 hours notice.
General Accessibility Information: Please contact Cassandra Mendoza (cm5114@princeton.edu) if a sign language interpreter is needed. Please contact the Office of Disability Services for any other accommodation requests.