Robotics
Healthcare mechatronics
We conduct research in three areas of engineering science, bringing together work on sensing technology, soft systems, and medical device design, applying this expertise to areas of healthcare. Please find further details and examples of our past and present projects below.
Sensing technology
Our research is investigating the development of low-cost load-sensing technology, including methods for computer-aided design, optimisation, and calibration. We are applying these sensing technologies in a range of healthcare applications to help improve identification, assessment, and management of conditions like diabetic foot ulcers and osteoarthritis.
View examples of our projects in this area:
- Soft tactile sensors
- SLIPS in-shoe load sensing for assessment of diabetic foot ulcers
- HAILO instrumented hand-splints for osteoarthritis
Foot plantar strain mapping using DIC techniques:
Soft systems
We are investigating how to exploit advances in materials and structures to form new building blocks for soft robotics. Several geometries and mechanisms are being studied, including foams, hierarchical laminates, and microporous polymers. This research is developing and evaluating novel manufacturing techniques for the fabrication of soft structures with controlled meso-structures. In parallel, we are applying these Soft Systems to address healthcare challenges, including systems for Cardiac Assistance and biomedical research.
View examples of our projects in this area
- Soft robotic cardiac assistance
- Soft robotic fabrication
- IMPRESS: Compliant meshes for pelvic organ prolapse
Medical devices
We use our expertise in mechatronics, instrumentation, and design to improve medical devices. We have a particular interest in systems for global surgery, enabling better surgical care for a wide population.
View examples of our projects in this area:
- Maternal health: simulating vacuum-assisted delivery (VAD)
- Global health – We are redesigning a surgical lift device to support the delivery of minimally invasive surgery in low-resource settings.
Browse our completed projects
- CoDIR: Rollerball colonoscopy robot
- Electrochemical sensing for cancer
- Accelerating surgical training
- Sensing tissue trauma in surgery
- IMPRESS: Simulating fecal continence
- The intra-abdominal platform for MIS support
Research team
If you are interested in collaborating with us or joining our research team, please get in touch with our team members: