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Events

• Feb

  12

  ME512 Seminar Katia Bertoldi

  McCormick - Mechanical Engineering (ME)

  3:00 PM L211, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Towards mechanically intelligent machines
  Tradi􀆟onal, rigid-bodied robots are extensively employed in manufacturing, excelling in the efficient execu􀆟on of specific programmed tasks. However, their adaptability is o􀅌en limited. When engaging with unstructured environments autonomously, these robots face challenges, typically requiring an array of sensors and actuators. Nevertheless, recent advancements highlight the integra􀆟on of physical intelligence into robot structures, enabling autonomous responses to environmental cues with fewer sensors, actuators, and controllers.
  Here, we embrace large deforma􀆟ons, instabili􀆟es and mul􀆟stability as paradigms to expand the func􀆟onality of robots. In the first part of this seminar, I will describe how instabili􀆟es can be exploited to generate complex and reprogrammable deforma􀆟ons out of uniform cylindrical shells. Shi􀅌ing focus in the second part, I will discuss underactuated mul􀆟stable linkages capable of execu􀆟ng reprogrammable sequences of mo􀆟on with just a single input.
  Ka􀆟a Bertoldi is the William and Ami Kuan Danoff Professor of Applied Mechanics at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. She earned master degrees from Trento University (Italy) in 2002 and from Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden) in 2003, majoring in Structural Engineering Mechanics. Upon earning a Ph.D. degree in Mechanics of Materials and Structures from Trento University, in 2006, Ka􀆟a joined as a PostDoc the group of Mary Boyce at MIT. In 2008 she moved to the University of Twente (the Netherlands) where she was an Assistant Professor in the faculty of Engineering Technology. In January 2010 Ka􀆟a joined the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University and established a group studying the mechanics of materials and structures. She is the recipient of the NSF Career Award 2011 and of the ASME's 2014 Hughes Young Inves􀆟gator Award. She serves as an Associate Editor for the journal Extreme Mechanics Leters. She published over 120 peer-reviewed papers and several patents. Dr Bertoldi’s research contributes to the design of materials with a carefully designed meso-structure that leads to novel effec􀆟ve behavior at the macroscale. She inves􀆟gates both mechanical and acous􀆟c proper􀆟es of such structured materials, with a par􀆟cular focus on harnessing instabili􀆟es and strong geometric non-lineari􀆟es to generate new modes of func􀆟onality. Since the proper􀆟es of the designed architected materials are primarily governed by the geometry of the structure (as opposed to cons􀆟tu􀆟ve ingredients at the material level), the principles she discovers are universal and can be applied to systems over a wide range of length scales.

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  TIME Monday, February 12, 2024 at 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

  LOCATION L211, Technological Institute    map it

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  CONTACT Jeremy Wells    jeremywells@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick - Mechanical Engineering (ME)

• Aug

  7

  CRB Seminar, August 7: "Shaping the Body of Soft Robots", Yong-Lae Park from Seoul National University

  Center for Robotics and Biosystems (CRB)

  12:00 PM ME, B211, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILSmore info

  

  Speaker: Yong-Lae Park, Prof. of Mechanical Engineering, Soft Robotics & Bionics Lab at Seoul National University

  Title: Shaping the Body of Soft Robots

  Date and Time: Wednesday, August 7 at 12:00 PM CT

  Location: Tech ME B211 and Zoom

  Zoom Link: https://tinyurl.com/CRBSeminar

  • NU-authenticated attendees will be automatically admitted. Others, please email amy.nedoss@northwestern.edu to be admitted from the waiting room.

  Abstract:

  Soft robots, with their flexibility and adaptability, represent a significant advancement in robotics by closely mimicking the movements of biological systems. This talk explores recent technologies for designing and fabricating soft sensors and actuators, which are crucial for developing artificial skin and muscles for future robots. We will cover novel materials and fabrication methods that enhance the responsiveness of soft robots. Additionally, the potential of inflatable structures will be discussed, highlighting their importance in creating safe, human-interactive robots. By integrating these advanced components, we can develop a new generation of robots capable of seamless and safe interaction in human environments.

  Bio:

  Yong-Lae Park received the Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA, in 2010. He is currently a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea. Prior to joining SNU, he was an Assistant Professor in the Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA (2013–2017) and a Technology Development Fellow in the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA (2010–2013). His research interests include artificial skin sensors and muscle actuators, soft robots, wearable robots, rehabilitation robots, and medical robots.

  Prof. Park’s papers on soft artificial muscles and skin were selected as cover articles in various journals, including Soft Robotics, Advanced Functional Materials, Advanced Intelligent Systems and the IEEE Sensors Journal, and his work on soft robots were featured in media, including Nature, Discovery News, New Scientist, PBS NOVA, and Reuters. Prof. Park is currently serving as Senior Editor in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, and Associate Editor in Soft Robotics and npj Robotics.

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  TIME Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

  LOCATION ME, B211, Technological Institute    map it

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  CONTACT Amy Nedoss    amy.nedoss@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR Center for Robotics and Biosystems (CRB)

• Aug

  14

  Undergraduate Quantum Summer School

  McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

  All Day Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center

  EVENT DETAILSmore info

  Innovation in Quantum Pedagogy, Application, and its Relation to Culture (IQ-PARC), funded by the Department of Defense — National Defense Education Program, is extending an invitation to underrepresented students nationwide (including military-connected students) to participate in a summer school focused on quantum technologies, to be held at Northwestern University. Join us for presentations by faculty and industry partners introducing quantum technologies, cutting-edge research areas, and related job opportunities particularly in the areas of national security.

  This effort aims to foster an inclusive environment that encourages participation from all corners of the academic community. Successful applicants will receive up to $1,000 USD to cover travel and lodging expenses in Evanston, IL.

  Priority application deadline: May 15, 2024.

  Decisions will be sent by June 15, 2024.

  Register Now

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  TIME Wednesday, August 14, 2024

  LOCATION Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Dongyang Li    lidongyang@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

• Aug

  15

  Undergraduate Quantum Summer School

  McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

  All Day Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center

  EVENT DETAILSmore info

  Innovation in Quantum Pedagogy, Application, and its Relation to Culture (IQ-PARC), funded by the Department of Defense — National Defense Education Program, is extending an invitation to underrepresented students nationwide (including military-connected students) to participate in a summer school focused on quantum technologies, to be held at Northwestern University. Join us for presentations by faculty and industry partners introducing quantum technologies, cutting-edge research areas, and related job opportunities particularly in the areas of national security.

  This effort aims to foster an inclusive environment that encourages participation from all corners of the academic community. Successful applicants will receive up to $1,000 USD to cover travel and lodging expenses in Evanston, IL.

  Priority application deadline: May 15, 2024.

  Decisions will be sent by June 15, 2024.

  Register Now

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  TIME Thursday, August 15, 2024

  LOCATION Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Dongyang Li    lidongyang@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

• Sep

  24

  Fall 2024 Classes Begin (No Northwestern Monday in Fall)

  University Academic Calendar

  All Day

  EVENT DETAILS

  Fall 2024 Classes Begin (No Northwestern Monday in Fall)

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  TIME Tuesday, September 24, 2024

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  CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR University Academic Calendar

• Sep

  30

  Last day to add a class or change a section for Fall (Last day for tuition adjustment related to enrollment changes (to or from full-time). No reductions are made to bills for dropped or swapped classes after this date)

  University Academic Calendar

  All Day

  EVENT DETAILS

  Last day to add a class or change a section for Fall (Last day for tuition adjustment related to enrollment changes (to or from full-time). No reductions are made to bills for dropped or swapped classes after this date)

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  TIME Monday, September 30, 2024

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR University Academic Calendar

• Dec

  7

  Fall classes end

  University Academic Calendar

  All Day

  EVENT DETAILS

  Fall classes end

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  TIME Saturday, December 7, 2024

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR University Academic Calendar