Research Projects

As a leading growing economy, India's manufacturing is the fastest-growing sector for aerospace, biomedical, defense, and industrial applications. The advancement in soft robotic technology for micro-robotics systems, sensors, and actuators drives future applications. Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are the materials that remember their original shape despite being deformed. They returned to their original shapes by the application of external stimuli such as heat, electric field, light, etc. SMPs are smart functional materials widely used in a broad range of applications like in micro robotics grip systems, and its grip sensors and actuators. However, their deployment is limited due to their lower electrical, thermal conductivity, and lower stress recovery. However, the SMAs and super elastic alloys have higher stress recovery, electrical and thermal conductivity. Developing SMPs composite and hybridizing SMPs with SMAs and super elastic alloys can play a vital role in enhancing SMPs efficacy. Additionally, engineering SMPs with the fillers to embark multi-stimulus responsiveness could be use in the development of multifunctional sensors in robotic systems to extract abundant sensory information and can perform vital function1. Developed soft grips with shape memory materials in literature, Du et.al used NiTi SMA wire embedded in a rubber/SMP matrix, creating a composite strip with enhanced load-bearing ability and two-way bending behavior2. Wu et.al develop a magnet/light dual-responsive shape-memory gripper via additive manufacturing, based on the hybrid of Fe‐nanoparticles and SMPs3. But the lack of stimulus responsiveness of SMP and miniaturization of grips for small-scale applications. Multi-stimulus SMPs allow for selective and spatial control of deformation, parts of the grip can be activated independently, enabling more complex gripping patterns or localized deformation. Useful in settings where thermal actuation isn't ideal (e.g., heat-sensitive electronics, etc.), since other stimuli (e.g., light, pH, etc.) can be used instead. Whereas conventional grippers struggle with small-scale applications. SMP and SMA based designs offer better handling for micro-manipulation/micro-assembly. These materials are revolutionizing grip applications across various fields. We proposed to develop shape memory hybrid composite using engineered SMPs for the grip system technology for different application. Optimization of shape memory hybrid composite materials for achieving multi-stimuli responsiveness, higher shape recovery ratio and fixity ratio, fast actuation time, high efficiency, higher actuating force and low cost in a control lab setting using theoretical and experimental techniques both. We aim to demonstrate made in India micro robotics grip system during the tenure of ANRF-NPDF. Specific objectives are presented in subsequent section. Ref. 1. Soft Robotics (2017) 4 (4), 379 2. Applied Sciences, (2023), Vol. 13 3. Small (2025) 21 (9), 2411029