Demonstrators

How can the different research areas within livMatS integrate their findings into functional materials systems and prototypical products? How will these materials systems look and feel like? How feasible are the materials systems regarding their industrial production and later real-life applications? To answer these questions livMatS will design and build technological demonstrators that act as first steps towards the later implementation of newly developed materials systems into industrial products, and highlight their wide application range.

livMatS develops demonstrators along three different lines: two sets are intended as proof-of-concept, and one set of demonstrators is oriented towards practical applications.
One demonstrator is inspired by the snapping mechanisms of the Venus flytrap and the waterwheel plant and should have all the functions of the living role models. Other demonstrators include soft autonomous machines with immanent sensing, controlling, and decision-making functionalities. Practical applications may include shape-adaptive objects for handling in work environments or medical uses.


Coordinator
Prof. Dr. Thomas Speck


Projects


Longterm Projects 2022 and 2023

Longterm Projects 2019 and 2020

Booster Projects 2023 - finished

  • Biomechanics of Venus flytrap stomach formation and trap reopening
    Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Thomas Speck
    Responsible Investigator: PD Dr. Simon Poppinga
  • Controlled oxygen release through force
    This project is a cooperation between research areas B and Demonstrators.
    Principal Investigators: PD Dr. Michael Walter and Prof. Dr. Henning Jessen
  • Plant-inspired humidity-driven bending actuator
    This project is a cooperation between research areas B, C and Demonstrators.
    Responsible Investigator: Prof. Dr. Claas Müller
    Principal Investigators: Dr. Olga Speck and Prof. Dr. Thomas Speck
  • Biomechanics of liana tendrils and searcher twigs as models for novel plant-inspired soft root arms
    This project is a cooperation between research areas B and Demonstrators.
    Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Thomas Speck
  • 3D Printing of shape-morphing surfaces for mechanical metamaterial surfaces
    This project is a cooperation between research areas B, C and Demonstrators.
    Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Bastian E. Rapp
    Junior Research Group leader: Dr. Viacheslav Slesarenko
  • Maskless microstructuring of livMatS surfaces
    This project is a cooperation between research areas B, C and Demonstrators.
    Principal Investigators: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Rühe and Prof. Dr. Bastian E. Rapp
  • Thin-walled structures for soft machines via a new soap-bubbleinspired manufacturing technique
    This project is a cooperation between research areas B, C and Demonstrators.
    Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Chris Eberl
  • Emergent self-organization in macroscopic systems with stimuli-responsive elements
    This project is a cooperation between research areas A, B and Demonstrators.
    Junior Research Group leader: Dr. Viacheslav Slesarenko
    Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Lars Pastewka
  • ECPhotoACT - First steps towards photoelectrochemical actuators
    This project is a cooperation between research areas A, B and Demonstrators.
    Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Anna Fischer

Booster Projects 2021 - finished

  • A Soft Biomimetic Actuator Inspired by the Self-Sealing Motion of Succulent Plants
    This project is a collaboration between research area C and Demonstrators.
    Principal investigators: Prof. Dr. Thomas Speck and Dr. Olga Speck
    Responsible Investigator: Prof. Dr. Claas Müller
  • Highly flexible triboelectric strain sensors
    This project is a collaboration between research area A and Demonstrators.
    Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Peter Woias
  • Novel Materials Systems for Applications in Biomimetic Architecture and Building Construction
    This project is a collaboration between research areas B, C and Demonstrators.
    Principal Investigators: Prof. Dr. Thomas Speck and Prof. Dr. Jürgen Rühe

Compact Projects 2021 - finished

  • Unit Cell artificial Flytrap Gripper
    Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Thomas Speck
  • Biomimetic Speaking Valve
    Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Thomas Speck
  • Characterization and evaluation of 3D printing techniques for rapid prototyping of pneumatic biomimetic soft robotic gripper fingers
    Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Thomas Speck

Compact Projects 2020 - finished

  • Fiber Compound Connection
    This project is a collaboration between research areas B, C and Demonstrators.
    Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Thomas Speck
  • Lightweight Materials Systems
    This project is a collaboration between research area B and Demonstrators.
    Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Thomas Speck