The Reconfigurable Robotics Lab (RRL) research is focused on the design,

actuation, fabrication, and control of unique robotic systems. Inventing novel

fabrication techniques, integration and designs that push the limits of
mechanical properties. RRLs interactive, reconfigurable, soft robots are
committed to improving the quality of human lives though medical,
rehabilitation, search and rescue, personal and wearable robots.
MEDIA KIT 2017-2018

RECONFIGURABLE ROBOTICS LAB / EPFL

EPFL STI IGM RRL
MED 11326, STATION 9
CH-1015 Lausanne
+ 41 21 692 10 48
monika.salas@epfl.ch
 www.rrl.epfl.ch

PROF. JAMIE PAIK

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, RRL
Prof. Jamie Paik is the Founder and Director of the
Reconfigurable Robotics Lab (RRL) at the Swiss
PROFESSOR JAMIE PAIK, BIO

Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL). Jamie

received her PhD at Seoul National University on
designing a humanoid arm and hand. Following her
Postdoc at ISIR (Institut des Systems Intelligents et de
Robotic) at the Universitat Pierre Marie Curie, Paris
VI, she developed laparoscopic tools that
are internationally patented and now used in
operating rooms.

She continued her Postdoc at Harvard Universitys Microrobotics Laboratory, where she started
developing unconventional robots that push the physical limits of materials and mechanisms. Upon
joining EPFL as a faculty member, Jamie founded the Reconfigurable Robotics Lab (RRL) that
experiments in multi-material fabrication and smart material actuation for novel robot designs. Her
self-morphing robot origami (Robogami) transforms its planar form into 2D or 3D shapes by folding
in predefined patterns and sequences, just like the paper art. Her Robogamis and work in soft
robotics has received international attention and press (BBC, Reuters, Wired, RTS etc). Shes an
editor and associate editor for multiple robotics journals. Shes an active member and promoter of
soft robotics. She chaired and organized the first Soft Robotics Workshop (IROS) in 2013, opening
the doors to several parallel sessions of soft robotics in robotics conferences. She holds 4 patents
and additional 4 pending. Shes an advocate for the advancement of women in STEM and was
invited by the Embassy of Switzerland in the USA as one of the Women Who Inspire Innovation.
She's Robohubs 25 Women in Robotics you need to know and a core member of Swiss NCCR.

MAIN ORIGAMI SOFT WEARABLE

RESEARCH ROBOTS ROBOTS ROBOTS

PATENTS
- Surgical Instrument WIPO International Patent Filed (WO/2010/112609) IPC: A61B 17/29
(2006.01) Pub. No.: WO/2010/112609 International Application No.: PCT/EP2010/054471
- Chain-Linkaged Motorized Laparoscopic Surgical Tool for Minimally Invasive Surgery, EU Patent Fr
0952186
PATENTS

- Universal-JointedMotorized Laparoscopic Surgical Tool for Minimally Invasive Surgery, EU Patent

Fr 0952187
- The Automated Belt Punching Machine, Reg.No. 10-2006-008017 (1-1-2006-0603556-05)
Korean Intellectual Properties Office
- Facial Rehabilitative Device Based on Robogami Platform - filed on September 2013 (Pending)
* 3 additional patents pending *
 www.rrl.epfl.ch

OUR LAB CURRENT

RRL RESEARCH RRL RESEARCH
The Reconfigurable Robotics Lab (RRL)
research is focused on the design,
ORIGAMI ROBOTICS
- Tribot, a Multi-Locomotive Origami Robot
actuation, fabrication, and control of - Mori, a Modular Origami Robot
RESEARCH AT RRL

unique robotic systems. Inventing novel
fabrication techniques, integration and
designs that push the limits of mechanical
properties. RRLs interactive,
reconfigurable, soft robots are committed
to improving the quality of human lives
though medical, rehabilitation, search and
rescue, personal and wearable robots.
- Virtual Reality Interface for Origami Robot
Visualization and Control
- Adjustable Stiffness Structures
SOFT ROBOTICS
- Vacuum-powered Soft Pneumatic Actuator (V-SPA)
Modules
- Martinus, A Soft, Wearable and Portable Exosuit
- SPA-skin
- SPA-design-tool

We take inspiration from the ancient art of paper

folding to create reconfigurable robots with unique
attributes. Origami robots are flat, light-weight and
have a large number of degrees-of-freedom, making
them highly adaptable to a variety of applications. By
leveraging origami characteristics along with novel
fabrication techniques and actuation methods, we are
creating a wide range of origami robots, including
mobile robots, modular robots and adjustable stiffness
structures.

ORIGAMI ROBOTICS

SOFT ROBOTICS
CURRENT RRL RESEARCH

Introducing soft elements into the world of robotics

allows us to create systems that are inherently safe
for humans to interact with. We are developing novel
soft actuators based on pneumatic pressure and
embedding new sensors technologies that allow us to
create soft robots at different scales for wearable
applications. By characterizing, modelling and
prototyping our systems we are achieving high-
performance closed loop systems.
 www.rrl.epfl.ch

PRESS
MEDIA
Robogami : the future of robotics?

Moments of Innovation; Combining origami with modular robots

PRESS & MEDIA

Meet the robot modelled on a flea, inchworm and an origami.

PRODUC T

PRESS
CONTACT
Monika Salas-Tesar

The Reconfigurable Robotics Lab (RRL) research is +41 21 692 10 48

focused on the design, actuation, fabrication, and
control of unique robotic systems. Inventing novel monika.salas@epfl.ch
fabrication techniques, integration and designs that
push the limits of mechanical properties. RRLs @reconfigurableroboticslab
interactive, reconfigurable, soft robots are committed
to improving the quality of human lives though @rrl_epfl
medical, rehabilitation, search and rescue, personal
and wearable robots. /rrl_epfl