Cartography to shape morphing at many length scales
Date: May 30, 2025 @ 3:00-4:00PM | Location: Gates B03 | Speaker: Prof. Tian (Tim) Chen | Affiliation: University of Houston
The seminar is open to Stanford faculty, students, and sponsors.
Abstract:
Soft robots locomote by reshaping compliant bodies. However, precision control of large, reversible 3-D deformations with minimal hardware remains difficult. We tackle this by treating morphing as a geometric problem: prescribing an in-plane “metric actuation” field—coordinated local area expansions and contractions—changes a surface’s intrinsic curvature, causing a flat surface to autonomously adopt a prescribed 3-D form. For instance, a circular elastomer disk whose center undergoes a four-fold isotropic areal stretch while its rim stays fixed reliably morphs into a hemisphere; the same curvature distortion, applied at any scale, yields identical shapes because only relative strain matters. We convert desired shapes into these metric maps and demonstrate them in two soft-robotic platforms: (i) microscale Polyimide layer patterned using semiconductor lithography that transform into free-standing doubly-curved electronics, and (ii) cm-scale silicone surfaces that are laser-cut and deploy from flat packs into load-bearing domes suitable for extraterrestrial shelters. Because the curvature “code” is embedded in the 2-D layout, actuation collapses to a single global stimulus - pressure, temperature, or gravity - dramatically simplifying control schemes and opening clear paths to soft grippers, morphing airfoils, and adaptive wearables.
Bio:
Dr. Tian “Tim” Chen is an Assistant Professor at the University of Houston, where he established the Architected Intelligent Matter (A.I.M.) Laboratory. He was previously at EPFL and ETH Zurich in Switzerland. The research interest of the lab lies at the intersection of mechanics, computational design, and geometry, and explores the theme of programmable matter. Dr. Chen is the recipient of the Haythornthwaite Initiation Grant and the ETH Medal. His research is funded by the NSF, NASA and DoD.
Please visit https://stanfordasl.github.io/robotics_seminar/ for this quarter’s lineup of speakers. Although we encourage live in-person attendance, recordings of talks will be posted also.
Covid-19 related instructions: We recommend wearing a well-fitted, high-quality face covering inside the classroom.