Nature-based Robots

By emulating the dynamic behaviors of biological systems, we hope to understand the connections in nonlinearities across scales from materials to systems. Connecting nonlinearities across the scales will lead to developing efficient models to replace current methods that are impractical for control schemes in robots and dynamic systems. Our research is focused on attaining nature-based control methods between (i) the Geometrically Modulated and Segmented Structures for improving the dynamic range; and (ii) the Active Soft and Living Materials that connect the segmented elements for enabling distributive actuation and control. The ultimate goal is to enable engineers to achieve and control extreme dynamic functions without fatiguing the system and without the need for using complex mechanical and electrical circuitries.