M3S Showcases Expertise in Soft Robotics and AI in Education

The SMART Mens, Manus, and Machina (M3S) interdisciplinary group participated at RoboSoft 2026, the 9th IEEE International Conference on Soft Robotics, held in Kanazawa, Japan, from April 7-11. Robosoft 2026 is a leading international conference for sharing cutting-edge research across different fields in soft robotics, which includes wearable systems, medical applications, underwater and aerial robots, and edible and biodegradable systems.

The M3S team’s paper titled “Adaptive and Multi-Object Grasping via Deformable Origami Modules” was awarded the Best Paper Finalist

The M3S team’s paper titled “Adaptive and Multi-Object Grasping via Deformable Origami Modules” was selected as Best Paper Finalist, emerging as one of only four finalists from 140 accepted papers. The presented work introduced a multi-finger soft robotic gripper based on passively deformable origami modules designed for adaptive and efficient object manipulation, using a single actuator and no sensors. Unlike conventional robotic grippers that rely heavily on sensors and feedback control, this system leverages mechanical intelligence to achieve constant-force grasping and the ability to grasp multiple stacked objects of different shapes at once, boosting pick-and-place efficiency.

The team delivered a live demonstration of a working prototype at the Zooquarium showcase, which allowed attendees to observe the gripper's adaptive and multi-object grasping behaviour, and a single-track presentation to a full conference audience.

Ms Huishi Huang presenting the team’s paper at the conference

The M3S team also presented a paper titled “Physical Human-Robot Interaction for Grasping in Augmented Reality via Rigid-Soft Robot Synergy”. Representing the team, Dr Huishi Huang, M3S visiting student, delivered an oral presentation and jointly presented the paper during the poster session with Dr Haozhe Wang, M3S Postdoctoral Associate. The paper was awarded the Best Poster Award for their work, recognising both the novelty of the research in soft robotics and human-robot interaction and the quality of their presentation.

The paper presents a novel augmented reality (AR)-based teleoperation framework for a hybrid rigid-soft robot system - a tendon-driven spiral soft continuum arm mounted on a rigid robot arm, inspired by the grasping motion of an elephant’s trunk. By combining the precision of rigid manipulators and the adaptability of soft arms, this approach enables grasping capabilities in unstructured environments that neither rigid nor soft robotic systems could achieve alone.

To support safe and intuitive operation, the work also introduces a real-to-simulation parameter identification pipeline that keeps the soft arm’s behaviour consistent between simulation and reality, enabling safer, more intuitive grasping. Acting as a safety layer, the simulation process reduces real-world trial-and-error while improving both safety and operator confidence.

Dr Huishi Huang and Dr Haozhe Wang with the team’s poster, which was awarded the Best Poster Award

A third paper titled “A Compact Foldable Modular Design with Large Deformation and Force Application”, introduced a revised modular extension mechanism capable of extending to more than five times its original length while remaining compact. Compared to earlier designs, it takes up significantly less space while offering a much larger range of movement. Demonstrations showcased the system’s ability to continuously write multiple letters at varying heights with a control error of less than 2.1 mm, as well as the ability to displace 2.5 kg obstacles and execute precision grasping tasks.

Niklas Hagemann, PhD student at MIT, presented a paper titled “ZipFold: Modular Actuators for Scaleable Adaptive Robots”, co-authored with Prof Daniela Rus, which introduced a new deployable actuator that allows shape‑changing robotic systems to adjust their size in response to changing tasks or environments. Made using simple 3D‑printed components, the design can zip and fold into beams with tunable scale and stiffness, as demonstrated through an adaptive walking robot.

The strong engagement and recognition at the conference reflect the growing interest and advancement in soft robotics and reaffirm SMART M3S’s role in advancing cutting‑edge robotics research and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in translating novel ideas into real‑world impact.

Shaping AI in education: M3S’ insights on pedagogical dimensions

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming an integral part of education systems worldwide, from generative AI tools and adaptive learning platforms to intelligent tutoring systems and automated feedback tools. As these technologies rapidly diffuse across education systems, they are reshaping how teachers teach, how students learn, and how learning is assessed. This shift represents not just a technological change, but a systemic transformation of education.

On 18 March, the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) held a workshop on the use of artificial intelligence in classrooms, focusing on its ethical, pedagogical and cognitive dimensions. The workshop brought together leading researchers to explore how AI technologies are transforming teaching and learning processes and the opportunities and challenges it poses for education systems.

Dr Vasiliki Charisi, Research Scientist at SMART M3S, was invited to author a policy briefing titled “Artificial Intelligence in Classrooms: Pedagogical Dimensions” and to present its key findings. Her contribution examined how AI is reshaping teaching, learning, and assessment in primary and secondary education, with a core argument that AI integration must be driven by educational goals, students' needs, and societal vision for the future and not solely by technological capabilities. 

She highlighted pedagogical frameworks that are better suited to AI-mediated learning, the emerging risks of AI-enabled assessment and datafication, and emphasised the important and irreplaceable role of teachers as pedagogical designers who inspire students' intrinsic motivation for learning.

The workshop concluded with a clear message: with the prevalence of AI in education, policymakers, educators, and researchers must work together to ensure that these developments can be addressed in a responsible and human-centred way and ultimately, support meaningful learning for students of future generations.