Physically Intelligent Soft Machines

with Jie Yin,
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

October 27, 3:00 PM
310 Kelly Hall

 Different from neuron-based computational intelligence through the brain, physical intelligence leverages structural designs and smart materials to physically encode sensing, actuation, control, adaption, and decision-making into the body of an agent. The stimuli-responsive body materials can enable autonomous sensory, actuation, powering, and other physical intelligence functions. The structural designs of soft body can simplify the required actuation for deformation and motion, as well as enable real-time feedback control-free locomotion and self-adaption.

In this talk, I will discuss our recent work in embodying mechanical intelligence of structural designs and/or materials intelligence of soft active materials in soft robotics, for achieving delicacy in manipulation, high speed and high efficiency in locomotion, and autonomy and intelligence. First, I will talk about utilizing the ancient paper cutting art of kirigami for programming 3D curved shape shifting via geometric mechanics guided design, as well as its application in nondestructive and delicate grasping. Then, I will discuss how to leverage bistability and multistability for achieving high-speed and high-efficient terrestrial and aqueous soft robots. Finally, I will discuss examples of integrating structural designs with soft active materials for achieving autonomy and intelligence in soft robots.

Jie Yin is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at NC State University. Prior to join NC State, he was an Assistant and Associate Professor at Temple University. Dr. Yin received his Ph.D. in engineering mechanics from Columbia University. He is the recipient of the Cozzarelli Prize from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), NSF Career Award, and Extreme Mechanics Letters (EML) Young Investigator Award. His group’s current research focuses on mechanics guided design of soft robotics, mechanical metamaterials, and shape-morphing functional materials for sustainability.