Project description
Paving the way for soft, stretchy electronics and microrobotics
Soft and stretchable electronic devices are creating new possibilities to integrate new functionalities and forms in materials. The field has opened up a wide range of novel applications, for example in healthcare monitoring, leveraging ultrathin skin-like flexible devices. In the microrobotics realm, actuators composed of soft active materials enable unprecedented structures and devices that are nearly impossible to achieve with conventional rigid systems. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the cross-disciplinary CLEAR project will merge the stretchable electronics and soft robotics fields. Its goal is to build up a novel material platform that possesses multifunctional electronic control, sensing and signalling coupled with actuation in response to environmental stimuli, such as electricity, heat and light.
Objective
The overall goal of this cross-disciplinary project is to combine stretchable electronics with soft robotics in order to build up a novel materials platform that possesses multifunctional electronic control, sensing, and signaling coupled with actuation in response to environmental stimuli, such as electricity, heat, and light. In recent years the transformation of electronics into soft and stretchable organic systems has opened up a wide range of novel applications, including healthcare monitoring with ultrathin skin-like flexible devices, whereas actuators composed of soft active materials possess characteristics for microrobotics that are nearly impossible to achieve with conventional rigid systems, most notably mechanical compatibility with biological tissue. In this project interpenetrating conducting polymer networks will be fabricated in an actuator composed of a liquid crystal elastomer, a class of materials that has undergone rapid development within the past decade and is considered one of the best candidates for microscale soft robotics. The stimuli-response of the actuator brings about possibilities towards autonomous action, where it can sense the environment and act accordingly, representing multifunctional materials where the matrix has an active role in functionality. The unique combination of properties and functionalities promises coupled sensing and actuation that could have a transformative impact on the use of liquid crystal elastomers in soft matter applications. I envision that the conducting actuators have future applications as wearable sensors for heart rate detection and electrical nerve stimulation, with the reversible shape change enabling them to smoothly envelop around the target tissue.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering robotics
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
33100 TAMPERE
Finland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.