BCLab News
Vision & Interests
Robots serve people. We are profoundly interested in bio-inspired soft and compliant robots in a variety of scenarios
SOFT ROBOTICS
Elastomeric or origamic structured, pneumatic or hydraulic actuated, inherently compliant robots
- Inspired by soft organisms in nature: a new approach to motion generation
- Inherently compliant, with minimal impact force, enabling safe interaction
- Ideally suitable for object-handling, human-interaction and nature-exploration
- On land, in water, even inside the human body
- Easily creats new motion forms otherwise not possible
- With careful design, performance on par with rigid robots
UNDERWATER ROBOTS
Replacing human divers in oceanic exploration
- Explore new/bio-inspired underwater propulsion methods
- Underwater robotic platform design and control
- Benthic specimen sampling using soft robotic manipulators
- Surveying and preservation of coral-ecosystems
MEDICAL ROBOTS
Improving healthcare service through robotic research
- Surgical robotic platforms and control algorithms
- Dental robots and automatic treatment stations
- Surgeon/dentist console + sensory feedback
- Rehabilitation devices for hand and upper limb
HUMAN-ROBOT INTERACTION
Teaching robots to behave and assist human beings
- Safe and compliant robot behavior
- Close-proximity human-robot interaction
- Design and fabrication of soft robotic manipulators and grippers
- Compliance-based control and behavioral shaping of task-capable soft robots
Research Projects
Ongoing and completed research projects
Underwater Soft Manipulation for Coral Ecosystem Preservation
In collaboration with Coral Biochemistry Lab @HKU and State Key Lab in Marine Pollution @CityU
- Soft manipulator and gripper for atraumatic underwater sampling
- Robotic platform for underwater locomotion and stabilization
- Surveying and mapping of corals and Hong Kong coral ecosystem
- In-situ monitoring, recording, and sampling of marine species
Fast Robot Fish with Caudal Fin Propulsion
Guinness World-record Attempt 2015 - 2020
- Single-motor caudal fin propulsion
- Fast linear speed underwater
- Self-contained with battery and electronics
- Wireless control
Close-proximity Human-Robot Collaborative Manufacturing
In collaboration with MIT, CS@HKU, IMSE@HKU, CityU, Lenovo, and Delta Elec.
- Safe and efficient soft manipulator design
- Compliant human-robot interaction
- Control and behavior shaping using soft manipulator
- Multi-object grasping with soft robotic grippers
Strong and Lightweight Multi-joint Soft-robotic Gripper
Champion of 3rd Soft Robotic Design and Gripping Challenge 2017
- Compliant soft joint design
- Hybrid structure for improved stability and rigidity
- Pneumatic drive with control electronics
- 5 kg payload at <0.5 kg self-weight
- 3D-printed and lab-assembled
Soft-robotic Manipulator
4- to 6- DOF robotic manipulator powered by soft actuators
- Compliant motion + impact safety
- Hybrid structure for improved stability and rigidity
- Pneumatic drive with control electronics
- Dexterity for manipulation tasks
- 3D-printed and lab-assembled
Soft-robotic Glove
Powered by soft actuators for rehab. and assistance
- 3D-printed wearable hand piece
- Soft actuator for compliance and adaptation
- Pneumatic control
- Flow-regulating valves for smooth motion
- Control and electronics
Surgical Robot
7-DOF dexterous robotic manipulator for laparoscopic procedures
- Large workspace, high dexterity
- Antagonistic design with advanced control
- Small diameter for incision convenience
- Surgeon's console for easy operation
Dental Robot
In collaboration with Faculty of Dentistry @HKU
- Control of filling material and solidification procedure
- Automatic dental filling and curing
- Manipulator design for dental surgery
- Automatic scanning and tele-manipulation through surgeon's console
Soft Actuators
Design and exploration of high-performance soft actuators
- High efficiency
- Linear force output
- Large output with low self-weight
- Compliance and adaptability
- Pneumatic or hydraulic control
Publications
Selected publications and patents (Full Publication List by Google Scholar)
Journal Articles
Conference Proceedings
Books and Book Chapters
Patents
Core Team Members
PI (Dr Zheng Wang), Current Research Students, and Full-time Staff
Current Students
Sidhant GUPTA
Student Intern
Underwater Robot
Xiaodong LI (Neo)
PhD Student (Med)
Sensing Glove and Rehabilitation
(Jointly with Dr Y. Hu)
ZHU Zhi
MSc Student
Robotic Platform for Elderly Care
(Jointly with Dr C. Wu)
DUANMU Dehao
MSc Student
Soft Robotic Arm
(Jointly with Prof J. Lam)
WANG, Xiaojun
PhD Student (BioMed)
Soft Robotic Glove
(Jointly w. Dr Y. Hu)
ZHU, Fan
PhD Student (CS)
Soft Robotic Manipulation
(Jointly w. Prof. W. Wang)
Join BCLab
We always welcome brilliant, curious, and diligent young minds to join!
Fully-funded PhD studentship (Positions filled) - 2018/2019 Entry
Research Assistants (Positions filled) - Experience cutting-edge research while being able to support yourself
MSc/Capstone Student Projects and Interns (Year-round) - Perfect way to engage and get started
Visitor and Postdoc - Exchange wisdom for new sparkles
Contact Us
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© 2016