Somabotics Research Fellow Feng Zhou is currently in China visiting Yinfeng He, an Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham who works across the Nottingham and Ningbo campuses. Feng, who leads the Soma Skins project has established a collaboration with Yinfeng to explore opportunities for integrating 3D printing into his work.

Yinfeng and Feng

Yinfeng has over seven years experience in  inkjet-based 3D printing and photopolymerisation techniques. With a strong background in formulation development, his current research focuses on creating functional polymeric formulations for multi-material inkjet 3D printing, aiming to fabricate environmentally responsive smart devices through the integration of functional materials.

Feng’s visit will focus on applying soft and multi-material printing approaches to manufacture customised, multifunctional wearable SomaSkin.  During his visit, Feng will be visiting Yinfeng’s lab at the Ningbo campus, where he is developing inflatable structures for soft robotics – one of the most important actuators in SomaSkin.  Feng will also present the Somabotics Fellowship to colleagues at Ningbo and discuss opportunities for further collaboration.

Yinfeng’s lab, Ningbo campus