Soft Technologies

Soft technologies are based on systems that easily can change form/function. This interdisciplinary science, innovation and technology is in close contact with people's everyday lives.

What is the village theme about?

Materials or systems that can change form or function when exposed to relatively small influences. This is a rapidly growing interdisciplinary area within modern science and technology.

How is this beneficial to society?

Control of herd dynamics (herd intelligence), dynamic functionality in design, smart spaces in architecture and buildings, design of soft robots, targeted medication, artificial tissues and organs, etc.

Why the village theme is well suited for interdisciplinarity?

The science, innovation and technology of soft matter is in close contact with people's everyday lives.

Relevant competency

Medicine, pharmacy, design, architecture, cybernetics, computer science, electronics, applied mathematics, economics, anthropology, history, philosophy, nanotechnology, biology, physics, chemistry, materials technology, entrepreneurship and product development.

Teaching form

Digital: In this village there will be digital teaching. To participate in the village, you must have a working microphone and camera.

About the village

The projects will include the opportunity to identify and include external partners from business and research environments. The project reports are expected to include all aspects of innovation, and a sketch of needed elements, market analysis (including economical and societal issues) and timelines (beyond the EiT course) towards patenting and commercialization of a product.

Examples of problems the student groups can take as a starting point: Control of herd intelligence, for example in panic situations. Soft robot technology for example in home care, kindergartens, traffic etc. Responsive architecture and design, and responsive buildings that change according to temperature, light, sound, etc. Soft matter in surgery and treatment. Innovation utilising the functionality of biological materials.

References

(there are many many more, google yourself)

• Studies of soft materials can give us completely new products (in Norwegian) [ Leter etter helt nye måter å sette sammen materialer på ] Published in Teknisk Ukeblad 19 October, 2014
• Soft Robotics, Whitesides Researh Group Research, Harvard Universty
• Flocking behavior (Wikipedia)
• Responsive architecture (Wikipedia)
• Replicating motions of the heart: Artificial muscles that do the twist set the stage for soft robotics, Sciencedaily February 26 2014
• New nanogel for drug delivery. Self-healing gel can be injected into the body and act as a long-term drug depot, MIT News February 19, 2015
• News from Langer Lab, MIT
• If one drone isn't enough, try a drone swarm (BBC)

Flere lenker

• Soft Robotics
• Soft Robotics - Harvard Biodesign Lab
• How Swarm Intelligence Is Making Simple Tech Much Smarter (SingularityHub)
• How does swarm work? (Unanimous AI)

How do I register for EiT?