Presenter: Dr. Seyed Mirvakili, MIT MechE PhD

Abstract:

Artificial Muscle is an exciting emerging field that possesses immense potential for disruptive innovations in lightweight, cheap, and safe robots (from the nanoscale to macroscale) for healthcare, human-robot interactions, environmental and ecological stewardship, and well beyond. The designs and materials used for artificial muscles often exhibit a unique combination of properties that enable them to be used for other purposes such as energy storage, drug delivery systems, and biomedical devices. In this presentation, first, I will discuss my research works on high-performance artificial muscle technologies. Then I will present two approaches in making the actuation of high performance soft robots untethered.

Bio:

Seyed Mo Mirvakili received his BASc degree (honors) in electrical engineering with a minor in nanotechnology and microsystems from UBC. He joined Molecular Mechatronics Lab in the electrical engineering department at UBC for his MASc degree, where he completed his degree. Then he started his PhD in the BioInstrumentation lab in the mechanical engineering department at MIT. For his postdoctoral training, he joined the Langer Lab at MIT. He has initiated and worked on various projects on artificial muscles, energy storage/harvesting devices, biomedical devices, and analog circuit design for the past decade. Seyed has published in more than 15 journals and conference papers, including Science, Science Robotics, Nanoletters, and Advanced Materials. He has received a number of prestigious awards, scholarships, and fellowships, including NSERC Alexander Graham Bell Fellowship, MIT deFlorez Innovation Award, and Leadership Award in Engineering. He is the founder of Seron Electronics and the lead inventor on 8 patent applications. 

Zoom: https://mit.zoom.us/j/98774144529