Speaker

Seppe Terryn

Research Professor, Brubotics, an imec group at VUB

Biography

Seppe Terryn - Parttime Research Professor, Brubotics, an imec group at VUB

Dr. ir. Seppe Terryn completed his Master's in Electromechanical Engineering in 2014. He initiated his Ph.D. under the ERC Starting grant SPEAR (Series Parallel Elastic Actuators for Robotics) with Prof. Dr. ir. Bram Vanderboght but was awarded an FWO personal grant in 2015. During his FWO-funded research, he combined smart materials and robotics, establishing the new multidisciplinary field of "self-healing soft robots" through collaboration between Brubotics and FYSC at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. In 2019, he successfully defended his Ph.D., earning the BiR&D Award. He continued as a Postdoc and, in 2020, secured an FWO Junior Postdoc grant for his work on introducing redundancy in multi-material, self-healing soft robots. Concurrently, he managed the EU FET project SHERO on self-healing soft robots, the EU Marie Curie ITN SMART on smart materials for robots, and the FWO project AMSeR on additive manufacturing of self-healing robots. Since 2020, Dr. Terryn has been affiliated with Imec through the VUB research group Brubotics. As of 2023, he holds a part-time research professorship at Brubotics. Presently, he oversees the EIC Transition project SHINTO, focusing on "Self HealINg soft materials for susTainable prOducts," aiming to elevate the TRL of self-healing polymers for application in products with an extended lifetime. Simultaneously, he remains active in fundamental research on self-healing polymers/composites, (additive) manufacturing, self-healing robotics, and sensors, as exemplified by the FWO SBO SUBLIME project on "Stretchable and Ubiquitous Liquid Metal Electronics.

Seppe Terryn - NextGen speaker

Imec NexGen speakers are young, visionary speakers sharing their insights and ideas in 5-minute talks. They illustrate how imec technology can make the world a better place. Through their passion and expertise, imec NexGen speakers inspire the audience to imagine a brighter future, where technology is used to solve some of the world's most pressing challenges.

Talk(s)

4:55 PM

Self-healing soft robots

Despite the promise, widespread adoption of soft robots into various new robotics applications, particularly those involving safe human-robot interaction, is hindered by their susceptibility to damage, rendering them economically uncompetitive and unsustainable. In the last 5 years, the VUB-imec research group Brubotics has devised a solution: developing soft robots from self-healing polymers. These flexible and stretchable elastomers feature a unique Diels-Alder chemical bond, enabling autonomous and complete repair upon damage. Crafted from these materials, a variety of soft robots, including pneumatic grippers, demonstrate remarkable resilience, recovering from damages ranging from punctures to severe lacerations. Further enhancing functionality, stretchable electronic skins, composed entirely of self-healing material, endow soft robots with the ability to sense and respond to damage, thereby prolonging their lifespan, paving the way for a future where robots can safely support us in daily tasks. Moreover, the sustainability of self-healing polymers, thanks to their bio-based, recyclable, and biodegradable character, positions them as a versatile solution applicable beyond robotics, encompassing fields such as flexible electronics, wearables, and smart textiles. With the support of the European Innovation Council, efforts to scale up and mature self-healing polymers are underway, marking a pivotal step towards the commercialization of self-healing products. VUB and imec stand at the forefront of this transformative journey, shaping a future where self-healing technology holds the potential to revolutionize not only robotics but a myriad of industries.