LMTS: Soft Transducers Lab (Prof. H. Shea)

Introduction to the LMTS

We develop reliable soft stretchable compliant actuators, sensors and transducers. Our research cuts across different miniaturized actuator technologies, with a primary focus on elastomer-based solutions and multi-functional stretchable materials. We are part of the EPFL Institute of Mechanical Engineering.

Our core research areas are:

  • Miniaturized polymer actuators and soft transducers for a broad range of applications including soft robotics, dextrous manipulation, microfluidics and tunable optics. 
  • Wearable Haptic displays for VR/AR applications and for visually impaired users, allowing dynamic graphical information such as maps or virtual 3D shapes to be explored using one’s sense of touch.
  • MEMS and Printed Microsystems. (Dr. D. Briand, MER) Environmentally-friendly and sustainable MEMS processes and materials. Flexible, printed electronics and microsystems. Digital and additive manufacturing.

News

Our Fiber Pump was published in Science (30 March 2023). Congrats to Mike!
Congrats to Giulio for his printed HAXELs that wer published 2-2023 in Advanced Functional Materials
With Prof Anne Skov (DTU) and Prof Neel Joshi (Northeastern), Prof Shea was awarded in 6-2022 a 7 M€ funding from the Novo Nordisk Fonden to develop wearable exoskeletons.
Bekir’s work on stretchable force sensors published in 8-2022 in  Nature Communications!
   
   

Contact info:

Mailing address:

EPFL-LMTS
rue de la Maladière 71b, CP 526
CH-2002 Neuchâtel, Switzerland

Head of Lab: Prof. Herbert Shea, Phone +41 21 693 6663

Admin: Mrs. Myriam Poliero Phone: +41 21 695 4436

How to find us: Our lab is part of the Neuchatel campus of the EPFL-IMT. 15 minute walk from the Neuchatel train station.