EMERGE: Evolving Morphologies via Embodiment of Reconfigurable GEometries

Research Period

 2025.11~2029.10

Funding / Sponsor

 Korea Planning & Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT, 한국산업기술기획평가원)

 Contents

 This project aims to implement the concept of Embodied Intelligence at the robotic component level, securing adaptive and reconfigurable robotics technologies where the robot's morphology, physical properties, and functions autonomously evolve in response to environmental changes and diverse task requirements. By overcoming the limitations of conventional centralized control and fixed hardware designs, it proposes a novel development framework for efficiently designing task-optimized robots based on environment-aware shape learning and distributed intelligence-driven autonomous reconfiguration.

AI Platform Center for Manufacturing

Research Period

 2025.09~2034.08

Funding / Sponsor

 National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF, 한국연구재단)

 Contents

 This project aims to develop high-precision haptic interfaces and advanced physical models to facilitate the transfer of robotic tasks from virtual environments to real-world applications. It focuses on Vision AI-based virtual learning for material handling and haptic interfaces mimicking dual-finger grippers with sophisticated grasping physics models. Furthermore, the research includes force-feedback-based high-precision haptic systems and scalable physical models designed for virtual-to-real robot transition in assembly and finishing processes.

Soft material-based high-resolution multi-modal haptic interface module

Research Period

 2025.04~2028.12

Funding / Sponsor

 Institute for Information & communication Technology Planning & evaluation (IITP, 정보통신기획평가원)

 Contents

 This project develops a 100 µm-thin, skin-conformable multi-modal haptic interface integrating actuators and sensors. It reproduces pressure, vibration, temperature, texture, and resistance using electroactive polymers and soft materials. Flexible multi-axis sensor arrays enable high-resolution tactile sensing. A dedicated driver and rendering software provide real-time, immersive tactile feedback.

Soma Design Interaction with Soft Haptics

Research Period

 2024.11~2027.11

Funding / Sponsor

 National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF, 한국연구재단)

 Contents

 This Korea-Sweden Joint Research Program (K-SJRP) aims to design and evaluate soft wearable haptic devices developed from somaesthetics principles and ethics, and provide body worn hybrid digital/physical materials to present and feel touch.  

Development of an AI Simulator for Creating Transparent Compounds that Can Be Altered for Tactile Sensation

Research Period

 2024.04~2026.12

Funding / Sponsor

 Institute for Information & communication Technology Planning & evaluation (IITP, 정보통신기획평가원)

 Contents

 This project is aimed to develop a highly stretchable and transparent tactile interface with environmental stability and deformation sensing ability with deep learning-based polymer informatics technology based on experimental data of polymer composites.  

Development of Compact and Light-Weight Actuators for Realistic Haptic VR Gloves

Research Period

 2023.07~2026.06

Funding / Sponsor

 National Research Council of Science & Technology 

 Contents

 This project is aimed to develop compact and light-weight actuators which will be used for haptic VR gloves. Among many haptic feedbacks of haptic VR gloves, this project focused on developing the soft actuator that can provide kinesthetic haptic feedback 

Development of Non-wearable Visual and Tactile Digital Twin Platform Technology 

to Provide Various Interpretation Information of Digital Objects

Research Period

 2022.04 ~ 2026.12

Funding / Sponsor

 Institute for Information & communication Technology Planning & evaluation (IITP, 정보통신기획평가원)

 Contents

 This project is aimed to develop a transparent flexible film haptic module which can be used in both contact and non-contact manner for delivering collocated visuo-tactile information on conventional displays.

 In this project, our team focus on developing multi-cell high-power transparent ultrasonic transducers based on electrostatic force and ferroelectric polymer.

Transparent Haptic Panel Providing Mid-Air Touch Interaction for 4D UX 

Research Period

 2021.12~2026.11

Funding / Sponsor

 Samsung Science & Technology Foundation (삼성미래기술육성재단)

 Contents

 This project is aimed to develop high-efficiency and high-power haptic panel based on a thin and transparent actuation module, for delivering collocated visuo-tactile information in a non-contact manner with the integration of conventional displays.

 In this project, our team focus on developing film-type ultrasonic actuation module based on electrostatic force and ferroelectric polymer to have wide-bandwidth and high controllability.