In our latest paper, an optical pulse travels through a branched waveguide network. A ranging sensor made for consumer electronics is put to work measuring the arrival time distribution of the pulse after it splits and travels through branches with three different lengths. Rubber “switches” squeeze down on each branch when pressure is applied. This …
Category Archives: Lab News
Soft optics
The fall Materials Research Society meeting was a hybrid of in-person and remote presentations. Here is our work on characterizing a soft, micromolded silicone layer for its pressure-dependent optical properties. Independent Study students Michael Portaro and Rio Brittany, both in ECE, developed different parts of the project during 2021. The end result was a material …
Student has a solid grasp of the material
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Student Muhemmad Yassin got a microelectromechanical (MEMS) gripper to grasp this conductive fiber as part of his summer research in the IMPACT REU program. This project aims to create a porous, breathable packaging system for MEMS in wearable and flow-through applications. Muhemmad is now taking the project on the road …
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A gripping presentation
Here is Sushmita’s talk from the 2021 Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference on designing microelectromechanical system (MEMS) layouts that align with one-of-a-kind structures like a piece of fabric. Most fabrics do have a uniform and predictable structure that can be described by a measurement such as “threads per inch.” However, threads do not have the …
Breaking the Mold
Interested in soft robotics made from a diverse array of materials? Attend the SCRAMbots virtual workshop on April 12 at the 2021 RoboSoft conference! Registration is free. Speaker information, registration, and poster session details here: https://www.scrambots.com/robosoft-workshop-2021