2018 Schmidt Science Fellow Ryan Truby is reimagining robotics by learning from nature.

Discover how his interdisciplinary work at Northwestern University is merging materials engineering and robotics to create soft robots that could transform our approach to environmental care, healthcare, and more.

Ryan is blurring the boundaries between biology and engineering, crafting robots that mimic the adaptability and efficiency of living organisms.

His work is pioneering the development of soft robots – machines designed to operate in ways traditional robots cannot. From cleaning the oceans to exploring hazardous environments, these robots promise to redefine our interaction with technology and the natural world.

By tackling the grand challenge of artificial muscle creation, Ryan’s work is not just about inventing new devices, it’s about fostering a new era of interdisciplinary understanding and innovation.