MEchanics GAthering –MEGA- Seminar: Rethinking What Robots Are Made Of
Event details
| Date | 26.03.2026 |
| Hour | 13:05 › 14:00 |
| Speaker | Bokeon Kwak (LIS, EPFL) |
| Location | Online |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
Abstract: Robots are ultimately made of materials with specific properties that meet designers’ needs. Rigid materials (e.g., metal, plastic, etc.) are often used to develop robots most seen in the real world, owing to their strength and durability. However, exploring unconventional materials can create a new class of robotic systems beyond the reach of traditional designs. One such emerging direction is the use of edible materials. Edible robots are biodegradable, reducing environmental impact at the end of their lifecycle, and they can also provide nutrition, creating a unique connection between robotics and living systems. In this seminar, I will discuss the motivation behind developing edible robots and explore their potential applications. By expanding the material landscape of robotics, this seminar will prompt us to rethink what robots can be made of and to challenge conventional assumptions about their role.
Bio: Bokeon Kwak is a postdoctoral researcher at the Laboratory of Intelligent Systems (LIS) at EPFL and is currently working on soft robots and edible robots. He completed both his bachelor and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) in 2015 and 2021, respectively. During his PhD studies, he developed various bioinspired robots to study their locomotion, such as multimodal walking, underactuated rowing and Marangoni propulsion. Bokeon also worked on smart structures integrated with soft sensors and actuators towards improved intelligence of small-scale robots.
Bio: Bokeon Kwak is a postdoctoral researcher at the Laboratory of Intelligent Systems (LIS) at EPFL and is currently working on soft robots and edible robots. He completed both his bachelor and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) in 2015 and 2021, respectively. During his PhD studies, he developed various bioinspired robots to study their locomotion, such as multimodal walking, underactuated rowing and Marangoni propulsion. Bokeon also worked on smart structures integrated with soft sensors and actuators towards improved intelligence of small-scale robots.
Practical information
- General public
- Free
Organizer
- MEGA.Seminar Organizing Committee