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URL;TYPE=URI:/news/calendar/events/robot
 ics-engineering-colloquium-speaker-luyang-zhao
Robotics Engineering Colloquium Speaker - Luyang Zhao
Soft Modular Robots: From Modular Tensegrity Structures to Bioinspired Sea 
 Robots\n\n\n\n      \n      \n\n\n\nAbstract: Modular robotic systems enab
 le reconfigurability, reusability, and repair, while soft materials ensure
  safety, simplicity, and compliance. My research combines these strengths 
 to design soft modular robotic systems for locomotion, manipulation, and s
 tructure formation. These systems can explore diverse terrains in terrestr
 ial and marine environments, perform various manipulation tasks鈥攕uch as 
 carrying objects, functioning as stretchers, or executing non-prehensile m
 anipulation鈥攁nd, with the assistance of drones, assemble into infrastruc
 ture like tents and bridges for outdoor applications. This talk will cover
  four key projects: (1) tensegrity-inspired soft modular robots; (2) aquat
 ic soft modular robots designed for tasks such as trash collection, formin
 g drone-landing platforms, and snake-like amphibious locomotion; (3) bioin
 spired designs including dolphin robots; and (4) STEM education kits that 
 enable users to build biomimetic soft robots, such as snakes and starfish.
 Bio: Luyang Zhao is a Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science at Dartmouth Col
 lege, where she is advised by Prof. Devin Balkcom. Her research bridges so
 ft and modular robotics, creating adaptive robotic platforms capable of ex
 ploring diverse terrains, performing versatile manipulation tasks, and for
 ming dynamic structures. Luyang鈥檚 work integrates tensegrity-inspired de
 signs, bioinspired robotics, and scalable modular systems to address chall
 enges in disaster response, aquatic exploration, and STEM education. Luyan
 g鈥檚 research also explores automation and learning, including computatio
 nal design using large language models, and simulations for optimizing rob
 ot performance. Recognized with the Neukom Outstanding Graduate Research P
 rize, her work has been featured in ACM News, Dartmouth News, and Tech Xpl
 ore.\nZoom: https://wpi.zoom.us/j/93413349160\n
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