Dr Andrew Conn
Ph.D.
Current positions
Associate Professor of Robotics
School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology
Contact
Press and media
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Research interests
My research revolves around the application of biological inspiration to solve challenging engineering problems. The integration of elasticity and compliance into systems such robots is central to this, driven by the potential for great improvements in human-robot interaction, prosthetic devices and robot mobility in unstructured environments. The primary focus of my research involves the development of soft actuation technologies such as electro-active polymers, which possess actuation characteristics comparable to biological muscle. Recent research highlights have included advancements in elastomeric actuator fabrication techniques, scalable multiple degree of freedom actuators, soft worm-like robots and the development of artificial chromatophores for soft visual displays.
Projects and supervisions
Research projects
8036 DSTL - Bio-inspired and Soft Robotics Study DSTLX-1000150791
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Department of Mechanical EngineeringDates
01/08/2020 to 31/12/2022
Digital Tattoo: Designing interface for Controlling Smart Ink in Programmable Tattoo
Principal Investigator
Role
Principal Investigator
Description
Digital inks to produce digital tattoos are conceptually around since a long time but no one has critically examine how to make i t happen. This project aims at to…Managing organisational unit
Department of Computer ScienceDates
01/01/2020 to 31/07/2020
Biorobotic technologies for improved treatment of urinary incontinence
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Department of Mechanical EngineeringDates
02/09/2019 to 31/08/2020
SoRo for Health: Implantable soft robotics for restoration of physiological function
Role
Co-Investigator
Description
SoRo for Health is a unique interdisciplinary Platform uniting three new and rapidly advancing areas of science (soft robotics, advanced biomaterials and bioprinting, regenerative medicine) in a collaboration that will…Managing organisational unit
Department of Engineering MathematicsDates
01/06/2019 to 31/05/2024
Integrated compliant actuation for untethered soft robotic systems
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Department of Mechanical EngineeringDates
01/10/2017 to 21/12/2018
Thesis supervisions
Integration and Coupling of High Performance Dielectric Elastomer Actuator Systems
Supervisors
Intelligence in soft robotics
Supervisors
Soft robotics technologies to treat laryngeal disorders
Supervisors
Euglenoid Movement and Novel Mechanisms for Soft Robots
Supervisors
Inherently Elastic Actuation for Soft Robotics
Supervisors
Investigation into the aerodynamics of gliding snakes
Supervisors
Implanted Device for Stress Urinary Incontinence by Using Soft Technologies
Supervisors
Optical control of electrostatic actuators using amorphous silicon
Supervisors
Publications
Recent publications
03/04/2023Biodegradable Humidity Actuators for Sustainable Soft Robotics using Deliquescent Hydrogels
2023 IEEE 6th International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft)
GelBat: An Edible Gelatin-Based Battery
2023 IEEE 6th International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft)
Quantifying embodiment towards building better robots based on muscle-driven models
Embodied Intelligence Conference 2022
A robotIc Radial palpatIon mechaniSm for breast examination (IRIS)
Quantifying Morphological Computation with an Impedance Controlled Simultated Robot
Teaching
- Soft Robotics (EMATM0057) - Unit Director
- Individual Research Project (MENG35000) - Project Supervisor
- Group Industrial Project (MENGM5000) - Project Supervisor
- Dissertation Project (EMATM0055) - Project Supervisor
Related people
Professor Jonathan Rossiter
Professor of Robotics
School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology
Professor Simon Neild
Head of School
School of Civil, Aerospace and Design Engineering
Dr Helmut Hauser
Associate Professor in Robotics
School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology
Mr Martin Garrad
Lecturer in Robotics
School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology
Dr Hsing-Yu Chen
Research Associate
School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology