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Intro to Mechatronics - lecture by Professor Vikram Kapila, New York University
413B
Climate & Space Research Building
2455 Hayward St.
Ann Arbor, MI
48109
Traditional rigid robotic grippers are widely used in industry, but gentle and adaptive manipulation is limited. Scientists [1, 2] find the bioinspired way to create multi-degree-of-freedom soft actuators with appropriate sensory capabilities. Authors produced soft mechatronic fingers using embedded 3D printing and use integrated ionogel soft sensors.
Learning how to build a robot is a long way. It is the way by mechanics, electronics and programming. Such a mechatronics project is associated with problems such as stiffness (mechanics), overvoltage (electronics) or bug (software). Of course, if something is wrong, we always say 'it's not a bug, it's a feature', but finally a robot has to start working properly.
In many areas robots are better than us. They are more precise, great at computations and can work without interruption in continuous mode. Their advantages are used in many industry areas, but mechatronic projects can be also a bit crazy, but very interesting scientifically and technically. An example of such an application is billard cue stick.
A biomimetics hand could transform the lives of amputees worldwide, and help them to regain independence and control in their everyday lives. The bionic hand should be designed to handle almost anything that you need to do during an average day. It is like eating meals and carrying bags, opening doors, switching on lights and typing. Achieving such opportunities requires the use of biomimetics and mechatronic systems.
