ASME-SG & ASME-NUSSS TECH SHARING SERIES - Powering Motion of Soft Biorobots: A Theoretical Case Study of Smart Hydrogels

Name: ASME-SG & ASME-NUSSS TECH SHARING SERIES - Powering Motion of Soft Biorobots: A Theoretical Case Study of Smart Hydrogels
Start: 2026-09-29T08:00:00+08:00
End: 2026-09-29T08:00:00+08:00
Location: National University of Singapore (NUS)

Date: 2026-09-29
Location: National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore, Singapore
Host: ASME

About this event

Soft biorobots promise a very different future for motion: one where machines bend, swell, adapt, and respond more like living systems than rigid mechanisms. This session takes that idea seriously by focusing on a core technical question at the heart of the field: how smart hydrogels can be used to power motion, and what a theoretical case study can teach us about designing these systems well. About the Event This Tech Sharing Series brings together the ASME-SG and ASME-NUSSS communities for an in-person session at the National University of Singapore. The focus is precise and timely: theoretical insights into the use of smart hydrogels for powering motion in soft biorobots. Rather than offering a broad survey with little depth, the event is centered on a clearly defined engineering topic. That makes it especially useful if you want to understand not just what soft biorobots are, but how researchers and engineers think through the mechanics, materials behavior, and system-level implications of making them move. The format is designed for technical sharing. Expect a talk-driven session that explores the case study in a structured way, with room to connect concepts across robotics, advanced manufacturing, and smart material systems. Because it is hosted in person, it also creates space for direct discussion with others who are interested in emerging mechanical and robotic technologies. What to Expect You can expect a focused technical session built around the theme in the title: Powering Motion of Soft Biorobots. The central lens is a theoretical case study, which means the discussion is likely to emphasize modeling, reasoning, design assumptions, and the underlying principles that shape how smart hydrogels behave as actuation-enabling materials. Topics attendees will likely engage with include: how smart hydrogels can generate or influence motion in soft robotic systems what makes soft biorobots mechanically distinct from conventional rigid robots how theory helps frame design tradeoffs before fabrication or experimental validation where materials science and robotics meet in the development of adaptive systems the relevance of these ideas to future research and engineering applications Because this is a tech sharing event, the value is not only in listening to a presentation but also in following the logic of the case study. You should come ready to think through how a material-level phenomenon translates into controlled movement, and what that means for design, performance, and manufacturability. Attendees can also expect a setting that supports professional and academic exchange. Whether you are coming from a student chapter environment, research lab, or industry role, the in-person format makes it easier to compare perspectives, ask practical questions, and discuss where the field is heading. Why Attend If you work in or around robotics, this event gives you a chance to step into a part of the field that is gaining real momentum: soft systems powered by responsive materials. Smart hydrogels are not just an abstract topic in materials research; they sit inside bigger conversations about bioinspired design, next-generation actuation, and the future of machines that interact safely and adaptively with complex environments. This is also a strong session for people who like engineering ideas at the intersection of disciplines. You are not just looking at robotics in isolation. You are looking at a problem that touches mechanical design, material response, theory, and the broader challenge of turning promising material behavior into usable robotic motion. By attending, you can expect to leave with: a clearer mental model of what smart hydrogels contribute to soft biorobotic motion better technical vocabulary for discussing soft actuation concepts insight into how a theoretical case study can sharpen engineering judgment useful context for research conversations in advanced manufacturing and robotics stronger connections to a community interested in emerging mechanical technologies For students and early-career attendees, this can be an especially effective way to build depth in a specialized topic without needing a full conference setting. For more experienced attendees, it is a chance to engage with a focused subject area and see how material-led approaches are shaping new robotic possibilities. Practical Details The event will be held in person at the National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore. That physical setting is a good fit for a technical sharing session, giving attendees the benefit of being in the room for discussion, follow-up questions, and direct interaction with fellow participants. It takes place on Tuesday, September 29 at 8:00 AM GMT+8. Since this is a morning session, it is worth planning to arrive a little early so you can get settled, find the venue smoothly on campus, and make the most of the session from the start. A few practical reasons to attend in person: easier real-time engagement during the talk better opportunities for post-session discussion a more natural setting for meeting peers from ASME-SG and ASME-NUSSS direct exposure to a technical community interested in robotics and advanced manufacturing If this topic sits anywhere near your work, study, or curiosity, this session offers a focused and efficient way to engage with it. You will get a concrete technical theme, an interdisciplinary lens, and the chance to explore how smart materials can drive motion in some of the most interesting robotic systems being developed today.

Who should attend

This session is a strong fit if you want technical depth on soft robotics and smart materials, and you value learning through a focused case-study approach. - You are a **mechanical engineering, robotics, or materials science student** who wants exposure to a specialized topic that connects theory with emerging applications. - You are involved in **soft robotics, bioinspired systems, or actuator design** and want to better understand how smart hydrogels fit into motion generation. - You work in **advanced manufacturing or product development** and are interested in how responsive materials could influence future device and system design. - You are a **researcher or graduate student** looking for cross-disciplinary discussion that links material behavior, modeling, and robotic function. - You are part of the **ASME, NUS, or broader engineering community** and want a meaningful in-person technical session with room for discussion and exchange. - You are simply curious about where **smart materials and robotics intersect**, and you prefer sessions that go beyond surface-level introductions into the actual engineering thinking behind the topic.