Prof. Bradley J. Nelson
Multi-Scale Robotics Lab
The Multi-Scale Robotics Lab pursues a dynamic research program that maintains a strong robotics research focus on several emerging areas of science and technology. A major component of the MSRL research leverages advanced robotics for creating intelligent machines that operate at micron and nanometer scales. MSRL research develops the tools and processes required to fabricate and assemble micron sized robots and nanometer scale robotic components. Many of these systems are used for robotic exploration within biological domains, such as in the investigation of molecular structures, cellular systems, and complex organism behavior, an emerging field the institute refers to as BioMicroRobotics.
Prof. Roland Y. Siegwart
Autonomous Systems Lab
The ASL is a laboratory consisting of the former Center of Product Design (ZPE) from ETH Zurich and the Autonomous System Lab from the ETH Lausanne (EPFL).
The Autonomous System Lab carries on research in mobile robotics and Mechatronics, namely in the design and control of systems operating in uncertain and highly dynamical environments. Our major goal is to find new ways to deal with uncertainties and to enable the design of highly interactive and adaptive systems. These technologies find their applications in personal and service robots, unmanned aerial vehicles, advanced cars, space rovers, inspection robots and walking machines.
Prof. Robert Riener
Sensory-Motor Systems Lab
We investigate the sensory-motor actions in and interactions between humans and machines. Human sensors (receptors) record the physical state of the human body and the surrounding environment. Sensory information is perceived by the human central nervous system. Human cognition is required to interpret the perceived information and generate a motor reaction. Similarly, in machines technical sensors detect the state of the machine and its environment. Sensor data is processed in order to drive actuators and displays. Human and machine can interact with each other via their sensory and motor channels.
The research of the Sensory-Motor Systems Lab focuses on the study of human sensory-motor control, the design of novel mechatronic machines, and the investigation and optimisation of human-machine interaction. Main application area is the field of rehabilitation. Further applications are within sports, fitness and medical education.
Prof. Roger Gassert
Rehabilitation Engineering Lab
The emerging field of neuroscience robotics promises novel insights into the neural mechanisms of human sensorimotor control and their reorganization with age or after focal brain injury, and can thus be beneficial to the diagnosis, assessment and retraining of motor function. In our Lab we use a combined approach of robotics, psychophysics and cognitive neuroscience to develop and clinically evaluate diagnostic, therapeutic and assistive tools in order to promote recovery, independence and social integration of the physically disabled. We are especially interested in hand function, and how haptic feedback can benefit motor learning, rehabilitation therapy, and human-machine interaction.
Prof. Fumiya Iida
Bio-Inspired Robotics Laboratory
The research interests of the Bio-Inspired Robotics Lab lie at the intersection of robotics and biology. Through abstraction of the design principles of biological systems, we develop core competences which are the design and control of dynamic mechatronics systems, bionic sensor technologies, and computational optimization techniques. Our main goals are to contribute to a deeper understanding of adaptivity and autonomy of animals through the investigation of dynamic robots, and to engineer novel robotic applications which are more adaptive, resilient, and energy efficient.
