MEchanics GAthering –MEGA- Seminar: Elasto-magnetic instabilities for amplified actuation and mechanical memory
Event details
| Date | 05.03.2026 |
| Hour | 13:05 › 14:00 |
| Speaker | Jisung Park (FLEXLAB, EPFL) |
| Location | Online |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
| Event Language | English |
Abstract: Soft mechanical systems often face challenges such as limited force output and slow response times due to their intrinsic material properties. In this talk, we present an Elasto-Magnetic Instability (EsMI) that overcomes these limitations by combining magnetic attraction with elastic tension to create robust bistable dynamics. We demonstrate this principle through a Coupled Elasto-Magnetic Vibration (C-EsMV) system, which achieves significant motion amplification and force output compared to non-coupled systems across a wide frequency range. By analyzing the delicate balance between magnetic and elastic forces, we establish scalable design principles applicable to various soft robotic configurations. Furthermore, the system exhibits unique inertial hysteresis, enabling programmable dual-mode (volatile and non-volatile) mechanical memory. These findings highlight the potential of harnessing instabilities to develop programmable, adaptive, and high-performance soft actuators for complex environments.
Bio: Ji-Sung Park is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), working in the Flexible Structures Laboratory (fleXLab) under the supervision of Professor Pedro M. Reis. He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Seoul National University (SNU) in 2019 , followed by an integrated M.S. and Ph.D. in 2025 under Professor Ho-Young Kim. His academic background spans across microfluidics, soft matter physics, and mechanical instabilities.
Bio: Ji-Sung Park is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), working in the Flexible Structures Laboratory (fleXLab) under the supervision of Professor Pedro M. Reis. He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Seoul National University (SNU) in 2019 , followed by an integrated M.S. and Ph.D. in 2025 under Professor Ho-Young Kim. His academic background spans across microfluidics, soft matter physics, and mechanical instabilities.
Practical information
- General public
- Free
Organizer
- MEGA.Seminar Organizing Committee