Our new lab works at the intersection of mechanics, robotics, materials, and design, benefiting from and contributing to sub-fields such as soft and underactuated robots, architected materials, modular robotics, granular matter, swarm robotics, and circular engineering. We focus on the design, fabrication, modeling, and testing of active composite metamaterials (that can actively change their mechanical properties such as stiffness, strength, yield, and plasticity). These metamaterals which can function not only as structural components but also as actuators and sensors. We develop experimental, theoretical, and computational approaches to address key challenges in minimally invasive medical procedures, sustainable manufacturing, and human-material interaction.
Research Group Leader
Buse Aktaş
Max Planck Research Group LeaderOur approach:
We strive to foster a safe, vibrant, transparent, inclusive, and collaborative lab culture where all our members and collaborators feel seen and heard. We see ourselves accountable and responsible for communities we are a part of. Recognizing that research institutions and the field of engineering have a history of discriminatory practices, we are committed to ongoing efforts to critically examine the systems, structures, and norms that shape our work and their impact on all members of our community. As a group, we intentionally set aside time for discussions to reflect on our shared values and to assess how these values are embodied in our work. We hold each other accountable for upholding these principles, both within our group and in our contributions to the broader scientific community.
Our work embraces interdisciplinary approaches, creating opportunities to share and pursue ideas in ways that accommodate diverse learning and communication styles. By incorporating methods from other disciplines into our research practice —such as tangible multimedia installations and interactive data visualizations—we gain new perspectives on our work and expand its accessibility to a wider audience. We also initiate transdisicplinary collaborations to identify not-so-obvious gaps in knowledge that we can only contribute to by working together. By collaborating with artists, artisans, psychologists, clinicians, architects, environmental scientists, educational researchers, we are able to recruit diverse team members and perspectives into our projects.