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IRIM Spring 2026 Seminar Series | Material-Like Robotic Collectives with Spatiotemporal Control of Strength and Shape
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Elliot W. Hawkes will describe breakthroughs in material-like robotic collectives, showing how:
- Cohesive robotic units can transition between solid- and fluid-like states
- Interunit tangential forces are modulated to control shape and strength
- Collectives can form structures, self-heal, and support 500× the weight of a single robot
Hawkes’ research integrates design, mechanics, and novel materials, with applications in robotics, medicine, and biomechanics. His lab has spun out companies to commercialize medical and rehabilitation devices.
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Summary
Join the IRIM Spring 2026 Seminar on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, from 12:15 PM to 1:15 PM in Marcus Nano 1116–1118. Elliot W. Hawkes, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at UCSB, will discuss robotic materials—collectives of robotic units capable of changing shape and physical properties. His talk will highlight how modulating interunit forces allows local control of rigidity and enables collective structures to support large loads while remaining reconfigurable. The seminar includes demonstrations of structure formation, self-healing, and supporting up to 700 newtons before yielding.
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- Workflow status: Published
- Created by: gmenghisteab6
- Created: 02/17/2026
- Modified By: gmenghisteab6
- Modified: 02/17/2026
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