Bas Overvelde

The Soft Robotic Matter Group, part of the AMOLF research institute in Amsterdam, is at the forefront of innovative research that merges soft robotics with mechanical metamaterials. Led by Principal Investigator Bas Overvelde, the group specializes in the design and fabrication of robotic materials that can autonomously adapt to their surroundings. By employing a combination of computational, experimental, and analytical methods, they investigate how shape, nonlinearities, and feedback interplay to create intelligent mechanical systems.

Their groundbreaking work encompasses a variety of products, including fluidic circuits for soft robots, origami-inspired metamaterials, and soft medical devices. They also explore inverse design and soft fluidic actuators tailored for complex applications. The collaborative team, composed of students and researchers with diverse expertise, aims to uncover fundamental principles that drive the behavior of soft actuated systems. Through this research, the group aspires to enhance our understanding of how these materials can exhibit complex yet functional behaviors, leading to advancements in soft robotics.