Soft Robotics

We are looking for motivated students at undergraduate, MSc, and PhD level to work alongside our researchers in developing cutting-edge soft robotic devices.  Possible research topics include:

• The creation of new design algorithms
  • generative design,
  • bio-inspired design,
  • evolutionary algorithms,
  • topology optimisation.
• advanced computational modelling, including:
  • physics-based simulation (FEA, SOFA, DEM, ISAAC),
  • crossing the reality gap,
  • data-driven modelling from automated experimental platforms,
  • hybrid modelling combining physics-based and data driven,
  • physics-informed machine learning
• The development of field-deployable systems to solve real-world problems across the agricultural, industrial, and space sectors.

Our research focuses on how the above topics can be combined to explore a huge range of previously-unimaginable designs in a principled manner, quickly, and cheaply. The end goal is the creation of a set of design tools that allow for the creation of a new wave of soft robotic systems.

For enquiries please contact David Howard at david.howard@csiro.au.