Multi-scale robotic design and fabrication

Case Studies

Case 1 - Multifunctional Fibre Robot - Miniaturisation of arbitrary geometries via fibre drawing [Read More]

Dr Temelkuran, Dr Abdelaziz and Mr Zhao

Case 2 - Medical Biosensing - a multiplexed GFET measurement system [Read More]

Dr Rosa and Dr Anastasova

Research Outcomes

To know more about our Research Outcomes (Key Findings, Research Databases and Models, Research Tools and Methods, Collaboration, Software and Technical Products, Intellectual Property and Engagement Activities), please visit UKRI - Micro-Robotics for Surgery (EP/P012779/1) website.

Published / Submitted Patents

“Multi-electrode catheter” - UK Patent Application No GB2205559.4 (Application date 14.04.2022) to be licensed by TauRhythm Therapies – a spin-out being incorporated
“A Method (fibre liner)” - International Publication No WO2022136871A1 (Published 30.06.2022, Licensed by Precision Robotics UK)
“A Device and a Method” - International Publication No WO2022136869A1 (Published 30.06.2022, Licensed by Precision Robotics UK)
"Longitudinally non-uniform preform and method of making the same" - Publication No: US-20220170181-A1 (Published 02.06.2022, Licensed by Precision Robotics UK)
"A Method and Preform for Forming a Device Comprising a Shape Memory Polymer" - Publication No: US-20220168946-A1 (Published 02.06.2022, Licensed by Precision Robotics UK)
“A Sensor” - Publication No: US 2022/0221409 A1 (Published 14.07.2022, Licensed by Precision Robotics UK)
“A Device” - Publication No: US20210316115 A1 (Published 14.10.2021, Licensed by Precision Robotics UK)
"Fibre Based Sensor Incorporating Electrochemical Sensing" - Publication No: US2022151515A1 (Published 19.05.2022, Licensed by Precision Robotics UK)

International News

Steerable soft 'fibre' robots could enhance medical applications [Read More]

Using optical fibre making ideas enables development of soft robots with advanced motion control
Researchers from EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland, and Imperial College, London, have created fibre-based soft robots with advanced motion control that integrate other functionalities, such as electric and optical sensing and targeted delivery of fluids
To generate long fibres featuring multiple channels along their entire length, the researchers had to fine-tune the drawing process parameters - An important characteristic of the process is the interplay between the viscosity of the material
By optimising the material properties, drawing speed, and fabrication temperature, the team could reliably produce the continuous channels, arranged within the fibres at a micrometer scale, needed to give the fibre its robotic capabilities

Photo credited to - Alain Herzog/EPFL