Bas Overvelde

Bas Overvelde’s research delves into embodied intelligence within soft robotic devices, aiming to create autonomous robots capable of effective operation in their environments. To realize this goal, his focus lies at the intersection of soft robotics and mechanical metamaterials. Leading the Soft Robotic Matter Group, he employs a combination of computational, experimental, and analytical tools to investigate how shape, non-linearities, and feedback can be strategically utilized to embody intelligent behavior in mechanical systems. The objective is to explore innovative an elegant avenues that extend the frontiers of knowledge, all while remaining dedicated to addressing real-world challenges that have a meaningful impact on society. Based on this, in 2023 he was awarded the KNAW early career award. After obtaining his PhD at Harvard University in 2016, Overvelde became a tenure-track Group Leader at AMOLF, an academic institute for fundamental physics with high societal relevance in Amsterdam. Overvelde received tenure in January 2021. In September 2020, Overvelde was appointed part-time Associate Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) as part of the Dynamics and Control Department and the Institute for Complex Molecular Systems. In 2021, he received an ERC Starting grant to further develop smart fluidic circuits for autonomous soft robots. He is a strong believer in open science and public engagements. Besides organising three editions of the AMOLF annual open day to reach out to the general public, he actively work with artists and designers to communicate the group’s work to a broad audience, including the Soft Circuits Toolkit that provides a soft robotics educational tool for children and students.

Within the HHH project, Overvelde and his team will continue their development of a soft robotic heart with a focus on durability and efficiency, while also exploring non-linear mechanics and fluidic circutis to control the beating of the soft artificial heart without relying on electronics and software.