MAE Speaker Series Seminar on Bioinspired Thermally Actuated Soft Robotics

12 Nov 2026 02.00 PM - 03.00 PM LT6 (North Spine, NS2-02-05) Current Students, Public

Professor Yong Zhu

North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA

This seminar will be chaired by Asst Prof Liang Xuan.

Seminar Abstract

Thermally actuated soft robotics have recently much interest recently. In this talk, I will present our efforts in exploring thermal actuation for soft robotics applications. First, I will talk about a caterpillar-inspired, energy-efficient crawling robot, enabled by joule heating of a patterned soft heater consisting of silver nanowire (AgNW) networks in a liquid crystal elastomer (LCE)–based thermal bimorph actuator. With programmable heating, different curvature distribution along the body of the robot is achieved, enabling bidirectional locomotion. Second, I will introduce a plug-and play soft modular origami robot, enabled by electrothermal actuation. The heater exhibits large, reversible local bending along the crease line of the origami. By mimicking the caterpillar segments, each robot module features extension/contraction and bending. Lastly, I will discuss an armadillo-inspired active morphing skeleton for mechanical protection of soft robots. By combining adaptive morphology, real-time sensory feedback, and on-demand mechanical stiffening, this work presents a paradigm for concurrent active morphing and protection.

Speaker's Biography 

Yong Zhu received his BS degree from the University of Science and Technology of China and MS and PhD degrees from Northwestern University. After completing his postdoctoral training at the University of Texas at Austin, he joined the faculty of North Carolina State University in 2007, where he is currently the Andrew Adams Distinguished Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. His group conducts research at the intersection of mechanics of materials and micro/nano-engineering, including nanomaterial enabled soft electronics and soft robotics. His work has been recognized with a number of prestigious awards including James R. Rice Medal from the Society of Engineering Science, ASME Zdeněk P. Bažant Medal, Gustus L. Larson Memorial Award, and Sia Nemat-Nasser Early Career Award, Bessel Research Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, and Best Wearable Material/Component Development Award at IDTechEx Wearable USA.

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