(Website under construction.)
The Compliant Robot and Structures Lab (CRSL) is part of the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
CRSL's research takes a mechanics-focused approach to the design and analysis of soft robots. Soft robots seek to mimic the compliance that exists within biological creatures, and thereby replicate some of the adaptability and robustness of nature, but the structure of these robots is starkly different from traditional robots. Our research takes the view that the core behavior of these robots, including their abilities and limitations, is driven by their structural mechanics, and that understanding these mechanics will enable rational design of desired behaviors. Our core research mission is to understand how structure creates abilities in soft robots, and through that structural analysis, develop capable soft robots.
CRSL is actively seeking new lab members. If you are interested in joining CRSL as a graduate student, please apply to the UMass Amherst Mechanical Engineering graduate program and note your interest in CRSL. If you are a current UMass Amherst undergraduate and you are interested in an independent student, please e-mail Dr. Olson with your specific interests.
Some sample projects:
