Author: minirobots-admin

Our paper entitled: “Design, Characterization and Modeling of Soft, Coil-Spring Shaped Strain Gauges,” is published in IEEE Sensors Journal.

We are happy to announce that we have been awarded funding under the European Union’s Horizon Europe WIDERA Twinning program. The TWIST (Twinning Initiative for Soft Robotics Transition) project, to be led by Assoc. Prof. Onur Özcan, includes Prof. Evren Samur and Assoc. Prof. Bilge Baytekin. This initiative establishes a strategic international partnership aimed at advancing research, institutional capacity, and technological innovation in the field of sustainable soft robotics. The other institutions involved in the project: Polymer Competence Center Leoben (PCCL) (Austria) École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) (Switzerland) University of Bristol (United Kingdom) Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) (Italy) TWIST addresses three core priorities: bridging expertise across sustainable materials, AI-driven generative design, and soft robotics; expanding integration with European academic networks; and upgrading institutional project development and technology transfer practices. Key initiatives include joint exploratory research, mentoring exchanges, international workshops, a dedicated summer school, research management shadowing, and broad Continue Reading

Our paper entitled:“Maneuverable Multilegged Locomotion through Anisotropically Arranged Soft Backbones in a Single-Actuator Modular Miniature Robot,” is published in Advanced Intelligent Systems.

Our paper entitled:“ReLMBot: A Reconfigurable, Legged, Miniature, Modular Robot With Compliant or Rigid, Magnetic Connection Mechanisms,” is published in IEEE Robotics & Automation Letters.

Congratulations to our lab members on their outstanding achievements at the recent Research Poster Competition organized by the Bilkent University Mechanical Engineering Department. We are proud to announce that Amirali Aleali secured 1st place, and Burak Arslan earned 3rd place. We would also like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the students from our lab who participated in the competition.

Congratulations to Muhammed Uygun for successfully defending his M.Sc. thesis titled: “SMOLBOT-VS: A SOFT MODULAR ROBOT WITH VARIABLE STIFFNESS BACKBONES”

Our papers entitled: “SMoLBot-VS: A Soft Modular Robot Capable of Modulating Backbone Stiffness” and “A Compliant, Force-Controlled Active Tail for Miniature Robots” are published in 2024 IEEE 7th International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft). Uygun M., Ozcan O. “SMoLBot-VS: A Soft Modular Robot Capable of Modulating Backbone Stiffness,” IEEE 7th International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft), 2024, pp. 34-39, doi:10.1109/RoboSoft60065.2024.10522033. Raheem H., Ozbek D., Ugur M., Ozcan O. “A Compliant, Force-Controlled Active Tail for Miniature Robots,” IEEE 7th International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft), 2024, pp. 55-60, doi:10.1109/RoboSoft60065.2024.10521935.

Congratulations to Mustafa Uğur, Alihan Bakır, and Doğa Özbek for successfully defending their M.Sc. thesises.

Our labs’ students Alihan Bakır, Doğa Özbek, Amirali Abazari, Mustafa Uğur, Burak Arslan and Alperen Özzeybek joined the sixth IEEE-RAS International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft 2023) in April. This annual event, which this year took place in Singapore, is one of the world!s leading conferences on soft robotics and where studies on soft robots are published. As Miniature Robotics Laboratory, under the supervision of Dr. Onur Özcan, the students represented Bilkent University with poster presentations of two papers that were accepted into the conference. One of their papers, “SCoReR: Sensorized Collision Resilient Aerial Robot,” was awarded “Best Poster Award Finalist.”

Dr. Onur Özcan has received the Distinguished Young Scientist (BAGEP) awards for 2023. The awards are given by the Science Academy Association (Bilim Akademisi Derneği), established in 2011 “to promote, practice and uphold the principles of scientific merit, freedom and integrity.” The objective of the BAGEP program is to recognize highly promising young scientists and assist them in furthering their investigations.