Bodies as Building Blocks: Self-Assembled Microrobot Structures
Small-scale robots, each with simple processing and motion can physically interconnect to build larger structures.
Project description
Self-assembly exists across domains, from colloidal particles in material science to fire ants assembling themselves into rafts during floods. The rules that govern self-assembly between these seemingly disparate domains are simple: local interactions result in global behaviors, and more specifically, result in assembled structures. How can small-scale robots take advantage of these local interactions, and more specifically, how can roboticists design mechanical and electrical hardware to promote these local interactions? This project aims to formalize the connection between designing robot hardware and emergent self-assembled structures.
Project outcome
Participation in this project will result in students learning basics of robot building and programming. More formally, the expectation is that this project will result in a conference paper submission to a robotics conference, such as ICRA or IROS.
Project details
| Length of commitment | About a semester |
| Start time | Summer |
| In-person, remote, or hybrid? | In-person |
| Level of collaboration | Small group project (2-3 students) |
| Benefits | Stipend |
| Who is eligible | All undergraduate students. Preferably students who have experience with CAD, PCB design and soldering, electronivs protoyping, and embedded systems programming. |
Project mentor
Ryan St. Pierre
Assistant Professor
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Phone: (716) 645-1451
Email: ryans@buffalo.edu
Start the project
- Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
- After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.)
Preparation activities
Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase.
Gain familiarity with the research themes in the lab and explore rffl.net.
Keywords
robotics, engineering, cad, electronics, robot, mechanical and aerospace engineering