The soft robotics research group from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at KU Leuven focuses on exploring the intersection of soft robotics, mechanical instabilities and (micro)fabrication. The greater goal is to create systems that are able to interact with humans by harnessing the unique characteristics of soft materials and creating functionality by means of mechanical design. We focus both on the theoretical design of such system, their numerical optimization, and the experimental validation on prototypes that range from the centimeter to the millimeter scale.
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Project
This PhD project will be part of the H2XO project, with goal to develop a haptic human extender that is able to assist humans in an industrial setting by means of a robotic add-on. This position focuses on the development of an intuitive haptic interface that closes the human-robot control-feedback loop. Other PhD positions will focus on (i) the robotic hardware design, and (ii) the advanced control with incorporated learning strategies.
About the H2XO project: The execution of physically demanding tasks by experienced operators is key in several economic sectors. An aging workforce in addition to a shortage of skilled manpower are foreseen to limit future production capabilities, especially in tasks that are strenuous and repetitive. Robotics and industrial automation are key technologies in coping with these challenges, with one example being a human extender, i.e. a human-controlled wearable machine, where the human hands are not in contact with the manipulated objects. These extenders are foreseen to augment the human capabilities towards heavy load lifting, accurate positioning, etc. The H2XO project will develop a bimanual human extender with dexterous end-effectors that kinematically map sensory information to the user using a haptic interface. The H2XO platform will enable relieving human operators from physical stress, while keeping them in control of operations through a novel haptic interface rendering both interaction and tactile forces in a natural way. The H2XO platform is thus a mechatronic medium tunnelling and recording all the dynamic information related to task execution.
This PhD project will focus on the haptic interface, that accurately emulates the extender’s end-effector architecture on the user’s hands, being able to render both kinesthetic and tactile information to the user, in a wearable form factor. Two global functions need to be met: (kinesthetics) capturing inputs from the user that are translated to the degrees of freedom of the robot, (tactile) feeding information (forces, contact pressure) from the robotic end effector back to the user. While the kinesthetic interface will necessitate solutions that can be made using conventional production methods, the tactile interface will necessitate manufacturing technologies that match the spatial acuity of the user’s skin. A background in micromanufacturing (lithography) is thus a plus. This project will cover the entire design cycle of this haptic interface, from setting the specification, to design, numerical optimization, fabrication, validation, and integration in the larger extender system.
Profile
The ideal candidate fulfils the following requirements:
- Master degree in (mechanical) engineering, physics, materials science or equivalent with distinction
- Strong background in solid mechanics and micromanufacturing
- Familiar with finite element modelling and experimental validation
- Proficiency in English
- The candidate must be creative, have good problem solving skills, should be ambitious but should above all be a team player!
Offer
- A doctoral scholarship of four years and, if successful, a PhD in Engineering Science
- A full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation after one year
- Benefits such as health insurance, access to university sports facilities, etc.
- The opportunity to be active in an exciting and international research environment, engage in research collaborations and participate at international conferences
- An excellent doctoral training at the Arenberg Doctoral School in an international environment at a top European university. This will allow you to gain the skills required to successfully complete your PhD, as well as develop yourself as an independent researcher. Moreover, opportunities are provided to acquire deeper knowledge in subjects related to the topic by participating in trainings, summer schools, or lecture series in- and outside of KU Leuven
- Starting date: November 2024.
Interested?
For more information please contact Prof. Benjamin Gorissen through e-mail: benjamin.gorissen@kuleuven.be.
To apply, use the KU Leuven online application platform (applications by email are not considered). Please include:
a) an academic CV and a PDF of your diplomas and transcript of course work and grades
b) a statement of research interests and career goals (max 2pages), indicating why you are interested in this position
c) a sample of technical writing, e.g. a paper with you as main author, or your master’s thesis
d) a brief report (max 3 pages in PDF) covering your solution to the research problem that can be found here: https://softroboticsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/a-manufacturing-problem.pdf
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