Study level

  • PhD

Faculty/School

Faculty of Engineering

School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering

Topic status

We're looking for students to study this topic.

Research centre

Centre for Biomedical Technologies

Supervisors

Professor Cameron Brown
Position
Professor of Biomedical Engineering & Director, MERF
Division / Faculty
Faculty of Engineering

Overview

Touch, or awareness of contact, is one of the key challenges in robotics, particularly in the soft and highly deformable environment of the human body. This project will explore the development and use of interferometric filters to quantify contact pressures through spectral changes in reflected light. Thus a quantitative 'image' of force may be created to both characterise and guide robot-tissue interactions.

Research activities

  • Design and fabricate interferometric filters capable of detecting spectral changes in reflected light due to contact pressures.
  • Calibrate and test their sensitivity and accuracy in quantifying contact pressures in various soft tissue environments.
  • Integrate the sensing system with existing robotic platforms to enable real-time feedback and guidance during surgical procedures.
  • Validate the system’s performance through experimental trials.

Outcomes

  • Prototype sensors capable of providing real-time force feedback in a surgical setting.
  • New techniques to measure and visualise force data.

Skills and experience

  • A strong background in engineering, robotics, physics, bioengineering, or a related field.
  • A good understanding of optics, signal processing and programming.
  • A master degree or a bachelor degree with excellent academic record is desirable.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are expected.

Scholarships

You may be eligible to apply for a research scholarship.

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Keywords

Contact

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