Faculty Grant Spotlight
For his National Science Foundation-awarded project, Dr. Isuru Godage is investigating how the combination of "stiff" and "soft" robotic components can create novel robotic "hybrids" that exploit the advantages, and conceal the inherent weaknesses, of the individual technologies. The project aims to design, develop, and demonstrate soft, modular robots consisting stiff and soft elements. Such "hybrids" will one day bring safe and practical soft robotics to previously inaccessible domains and applications, including urban search/rescue, disaster relief, and assistance for the elderly and people with disabilities.