Projects & Theses
Below you find a collection of BSc and MSc projects and theses that can be carried out within the MaP community.
Design and fabrication of a 3-axis linear manipulator for automated microtissue histology
We are developing an acoustofluidic platform that can increase the efficiency of microtissue histology. But most steps in this long process workflow are currently performed manually. To achieve high throughputs, we are interested in developing a 3-axis linear manipulator compatible with the established acoustofluidic-enhanced-histology workflow that automates most of the steps.
Keywords
Biomedical, Robot, Linear manipulator, Automated dispensing, Design, Assembly, Control
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Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-03-06 , Earliest start: 2025-03-17 , Latest end: 2025-12-31
Applications limited to ETH Zurich
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Binz Jonas , Joshi Saumitra
Topics Engineering and Technology
Development of intelligent lab-on-a-chip devices for high-throughput cell manipulation and microrobot production
Microfluidic devices can be employed in biological research as lab-on-a-chip (LoC) and organ-on-a-chip (OoC) systems. These platforms enable precise in-situ cell manipulation within a highly controlled environment. In the project, we aim to develop an intelligent LoC/OoC device featuring a flexible smart “switch”, for massive production of biohybrid microrobots and high-throughput cell manipulation and drug testing.
Keywords
Lab-on-a-chip, organ-on-a-chip, magnetic microrobot, cell manipulation
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-03-05 , Earliest start: 2025-03-10 , Latest end: 2025-12-31
Applications limited to ETH Zurich , Empa , EPFL - Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne , University of Basel , University of Berne , University of Fribourg , University of Geneva , University of Lausanne , University of Lucerne , University of St. Gallen , University of Zurich , Zurich University of Applied Sciences , Zurich University of the Arts , Hochschulmedizin Zürich , Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Organization Multiscale Robotics Lab
Hosts Zhu Jiawei
Topics Engineering and Technology , Biology
Novel Winch Control for Robotic Climbing
While legged robots have demonstrated impressive locomotion performance in structured environments, challenges persist in navigating steep natural terrain and loose, granular soil. These challenges extend to extraterrestrial environments and are relevant to future lunar, martian, and asteroidal missions. In order to explore the most extreme terrains, a novel winch system has been developed for the ANYmal robot platform. The winch could potentially be used as a fail-safe device to prevent falls during unassisted traverses of steep terrain, as well as an added driven degree of freedom for assisted ascending and descending of terrain too steep for unassisted traversal. The goal of this project is to develop control policies that utilize this new hardware and enable further climbing robot research.
Keywords
Robot, Space, Climbing, Winch, Control
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Semester Project , Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-03-05 , Earliest start: 2024-10-07
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Vogel Dylan
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Beyond Value Functions: Stable Robot Learning with Monte-Carlo GRPO
Robotics is dominated by on-policy reinforcement learning: the paradigm of training a robot controller by iteratively interacting with the environment and maximizing some objective. A crucial idea to make this work is the Advantage Function. On each policy update, algorithms typically sum up the gradient log probabilities of all actions taken in the robot simulation. The advantage function increases or decreases the probabilities of these taken actions by comparing their “goodness” versus a baseline. Current advantage estimation methods use a value function to aggregate robot experience and hence decrease variance. This improves sample efficiency at the cost of introducing some bias. Stably training large language models via reinforcement learning is well-known to be a challenging task. A line of recent work [1, 2] has used Group-Relative Policy Optimization (GRPO) to achieve this feat. In GRPO, a series of answers are generated for each query-answer pair. The advantage is calculated based on a given answer being better than the average answer to the query. In this formulation, no value function is required. Can we adapt GRPO towards robot learning? Value Functions are known to cause issues in training stability [3] and a result in biased advantage estimates [4]. We are in the age of GPU-accelerated RL [5], training policies by simulating thousands of robot instances simultaneously. This makes a new monte-carlo (MC) approach towards RL timely, feasible and appealing. In this project, the student will be tasked to investigate the limitations of value-function based advantage estimation. Using GRPO as a starting point, the student will then develop MC-based algorithms that use the GPU’s parallel simulation capabilities for stable RL training for unbiased variance reduction while maintaining a competitive wall-clock time.
Keywords
Robot Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Monte Carlo RL, GRPO, Advantage Estimation
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-03-05
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Klemm Victor
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences
Magnetic microrobots for targeted therapies
Recent advancements in medical robotics have significantly enhanced precision and innovation in healthcare, indicating a new era of minimally invasive procedures that reduce patient complications and discomfort. In particular, the development of robots constructed from materials with elastic moduli similar to soft biological tissues offers substantial promise for biomedical applications, as their inherent mechanical compliance improves safety during procedures. This project aims to fabricate double-compartment, soft, tether-free magnetic microrobots and to investigate their locomotion strategies. Critical parameters, including shape and magnetic anisotropy, will be examined in detail. Finally, the prototypes will be loaded with a model drug and evaluated in vitro using a silicone model.
Keywords
Nanoparticles, Iron Oxide, Hydrogel, Magnetic Navigation, Anisotropy
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-03-04 , Earliest start: 2025-03-09 , Latest end: 2025-08-31
Applications limited to ETH Zurich
Organization Multiscale Robotics Lab
Hosts Pustovalov Vitaly
Topics Engineering and Technology , Earth Sciences , Chemistry
Synthesis of a novel monomer for polymeric materials with on-demand degradation and enhanced durability
Plastic waste and the resulting environmental pollution are major challenges of our time. One of the problems is the mismatch of degradability and durability in plastics. Single use plastics like packaging material should be easy to degrade to facilitate recycling after use. However, these single use plastics are often very stable and hard to recycle. Performance plastics need to last during their lifetime without significant decrease in material properties, but aging in these materials eventually leads to material failure and replacement. Both situations generate plastic waste. Therefore, we want to synthesize a material that can degrade on-demand and experiences enhanced durability on longer timescales to satisfy the needs of single use plastics and performance plastics, respectively.
Keywords
Organic and polymer chemistry, novel monomer, degradability and durability
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Semester Project , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-03-04 , Earliest start: 2025-04-01
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Söll Carolina
Topics Chemistry
Deep Learning-Based Blood Smear Scanning System for Automated White Blood Cell Classification
This project aims to develop a deep learning-powered microscope capable of imaging and classifying various white blood cell (WBC) subtypes from blood smears
Keywords
machine learning, white blood cell classification, deep learning, microscopy, image processing
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Semester Project , Internship , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-03-04 , Earliest start: 2025-03-01
Organization Biochemical Engineering (deMello Group)
Hosts Aslan Mahmut
Topics Engineering and Technology
Manipulation beyond Single End-Effector
The goal of the project is to extend our prior works to make ANYmal with an arm use its different end-effectors for whole-body mobile manipulation.
Keywords
reinforcement learning, robotics, perception, robot learning
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Semester Project , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-03-03 , Earliest start: 2025-03-17
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Mittal Mayank
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences
Deep Learning of Residual Physics For Soft Robot Simulation
Incorporating state-of-the-art deep learning approaches to augment conventional soft robotic simulations for a fast, accurate and useful simulation for real soft robots.
Keywords
Soft Robotics, Machine Learning, Physical Modeling, Simulation
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Semester Project , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-03-02 , Earliest start: 2025-03-01 , Latest end: 2026-03-01
Organization Soft Robotics Lab
Hosts Michelis Mike , Katzschmann Robert, Prof. Dr.
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Volumetric Bucket-Fill Estimation
Gravis Robotics is an ETH spinoff from the Robotic Systems Lab (RSL) working on the automation of heavy machinery (https://gravisrobotics.com/). In this project, you will be working with the Gravis team to develop a perceptive bucket-fill estimation system. You will conduct your project at Gravis under joint supervision from RSL.
Keywords
Autonomous Excavation
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Semester Project , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-28 , Earliest start: 2025-01-01 , Latest end: 2026-01-01
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Egli Pascal Arturo
Topics Engineering and Technology
Towards Fully 3D-Printed EEG Headsets: Eliminating External Wiring with Embedded Electronics
Multimaterial FDM printing offers exciting potential for directly integrating electronics into structural parts. One promising application is in EEG systems, which monitor brain activity using electrodes. The Ultracortex Mark IV by OpenBCI, for example, uses a 3D-printed frame but relies on external wiring. This thesis aims to redesign the headset to incorporate 3D-printed electronics and test its functionality.
Keywords
3D Printing, 3D Printed Electronics; Design; Testing
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-26 , Earliest start: 2025-01-21 , Latest end: 2026-01-01
Applications limited to ETH Zurich
Organization pd|z Product Development Group Zurich
Hosts Vögerl Johannes
Topics Engineering and Technology
Next-Generation Wire Integration: Automating Electrical Routing in 3D-Printed Components
Novel 3D printing processes directly integrate electrical cables into components, solving many challenges of traditional electrical wires like entanglement, high assembly effort, or high system weight. However, the challenge of efficiently designing these integrated wires remains. This thesis aims to automate the design process of these integrated wires enabling fast generation of the integrated electronics in various use cases. Join us in pushing the boundaries for the fast design of complex 3D printing cables.
Keywords
Design Automation, 3D Printing, 3D Printed Electronics, Wiring; Programming
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-02-26 , Earliest start: 2025-01-21 , Latest end: 2026-01-01
Applications limited to ETH Zurich
Organization pd|z Product Development Group Zurich
Hosts Vögerl Johannes
Topics Engineering and Technology
Leveraging Human Motion Data from Videos for Humanoid Robot Motion Learning
The advancement in humanoid robotics has reached a stage where mimicking complex human motions with high accuracy is crucial for tasks ranging from entertainment to human-robot interaction in dynamic environments. Traditional approaches in motion learning, particularly for humanoid robots, rely heavily on motion capture (MoCap) data. However, acquiring large amounts of high-quality MoCap data is both expensive and logistically challenging. In contrast, video footage of human activities, such as sports events or dance performances, is widely available and offers an abundant source of motion data. Building on recent advancements in extracting and utilizing human motion from videos, such as the method proposed in WHAM (refer to the paper "Learning Physically Simulated Tennis Skills from Broadcast Videos"), this project aims to develop a system that extracts human motion from videos and applies it to teach a humanoid robot how to perform similar actions. The primary focus will be on extracting dynamic and expressive motions from videos, such as soccer player celebrations, and using these extracted motions as reference data for reinforcement learning (RL) and imitation learning on a humanoid robot.
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-25
Applications limited to ETH Zurich , EPFL - Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Organization ETH Competence Center - ETH AI Center
Hosts Li Chenhao , Kaufmann Manuel , Li Chenhao , Li Chenhao , Kaufmann Manuel , Li Chenhao
Topics Engineering and Technology
Learning Agile Dodgeball Behaviors for Humanoid Robots
Agility and rapid decision-making are vital for humanoid robots to safely and effectively operate in dynamic, unstructured environments. In human contexts—whether in crowded spaces, industrial settings, or collaborative environments—robots must be capable of reacting to fast, unpredictable changes in their surroundings. This includes not only planned navigation around static obstacles but also rapid responses to dynamic threats such as falling objects, sudden human movements, or unexpected collisions. Developing such reactive capabilities in legged robots remains a significant challenge due to the complexity of real-time perception, decision-making under uncertainty, and balance control. Humanoid robots, with their human-like morphology, are uniquely positioned to navigate and interact with human-centered environments. However, achieving fast, dynamic responses—especially while maintaining postural stability—requires advanced control strategies that integrate perception, motion planning, and balance control within tight time constraints. The task of dodging fast-moving objects, such as balls, provides an ideal testbed for studying these capabilities. It encapsulates several core challenges: rapid object detection and trajectory prediction, real-time motion planning, dynamic stability maintenance, and reactive behavior under uncertainty. Moreover, it presents a simplified yet rich framework to investigate more general collision avoidance strategies that could later be extended to complex real-world interactions. In robotics, reactive motion planning for dynamic environments has been widely studied, but primarily in the context of wheeled robots or static obstacle fields. Classical approaches focus on precomputed motion plans or simple reactive strategies, often unsuitable for highly dynamic scenarios where split-second decisions are critical. In the domain of legged robotics, maintaining balance while executing rapid, evasive maneuvers remains a challenging problem. Previous work on dynamic locomotion has addressed agile behaviors like running, jumping, or turning (e.g., Hutter et al., 2016; Kim et al., 2019), but these movements are often planned in advance rather than triggered reactively. More recent efforts have leveraged reinforcement learning (RL) to enable robots to adapt to dynamic environments, demonstrating success in tasks such as obstacle avoidance, perturbation recovery, and agile locomotion (Peng et al., 2017; Hwangbo et al., 2019). However, many of these approaches still struggle with real-time constraints and robustness in high-speed, unpredictable scenarios. Perception-driven control in humanoids, particularly for tasks requiring fast reactions, has seen advances through sensor fusion, visual servoing, and predictive modeling. For example, integrating vision-based object tracking with dynamic motion planning has enabled robots to perform tasks like ball catching or blocking (Ishiguro et al., 2002; Behnke, 2004). Yet, dodging requires a fundamentally different approach: instead of converging toward an object (as in catching), the robot must predict and strategically avoid the object’s trajectory while maintaining balance—often in the presence of limited maneuvering time. Dodgeball-inspired robotics research has been explored in limited contexts, primarily using wheeled robots or simplified agents in simulations. Few studies have addressed the challenges of high-speed evasion combined with the complexities of humanoid balance and multi-joint coordination. This project aims to bridge that gap by developing learning-based methods that enable humanoid robots to reactively avoid fast-approaching objects in real time, while preserving stability and agility.
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-25
Applications limited to ETH Zurich , EPFL - Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Organization ETH Competence Center - ETH AI Center
Hosts Li Chenhao , Li Chenhao , Li Chenhao , Li Chenhao
Topics Engineering and Technology
Learning Real-time Human Motion Tracking on a Humanoid Robot
Humanoid robots, designed to mimic the structure and behavior of humans, have seen significant advancements in kinematics, dynamics, and control systems. Teleoperation of humanoid robots involves complex control strategies to manage bipedal locomotion, balance, and interaction with environments. Research in this area has focused on developing robots that can perform tasks in environments designed for humans, from simple object manipulation to navigating complex terrains. Reinforcement learning has emerged as a powerful method for enabling robots to learn from interactions with their environment, improving their performance over time without explicit programming for every possible scenario. In the context of humanoid robotics and teleoperation, RL can be used to optimize control policies, adapt to new tasks, and improve the efficiency and safety of human-robot interactions. Key challenges include the high dimensionality of the action space, the need for safe exploration, and the transfer of learned skills across different tasks and environments. Integrating human motion tracking with reinforcement learning on humanoid robots represents a cutting-edge area of research. This approach involves using human motion data as input to train RL models, enabling the robot to learn more natural and human-like movements. The goal is to develop systems that can not only replicate human actions in real-time but also adapt and improve their responses over time through learning. Challenges in this area include ensuring real-time performance, dealing with the variability of human motion, and maintaining stability and safety of the humanoid robot.
Keywords
real-time, humanoid, reinforcement learning, representation learning
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-25
Organization ETH Competence Center - ETH AI Center
Hosts Li Chenhao , Li Chenhao , Li Chenhao , Li Chenhao
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences
Acoustic Standing Waves for Particle Manipulation in Air
Acoustic standing waves can be used to manipulate physical objects in both gas and liquid environments. This project investigates their effects on particle flow and selectivity in air, considering various particle sizes and weights. Through modeling, simulations, and experimental validation, we aim to characterize the selectivity of these waves and develop a compact driver circuit for practical implementation. The student will work closely with Honeywell engineers on test setups, electronic designs, and prototyping. A successful outcome may lead to a subsequent R&D phase or PhD project in a collaboration with Honeywellto further develop these findings.
Keywords
Acoustics, Standing Waves, Particle Manipulation, Flow Control, Electronics
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-25 , Earliest start: 2025-02-25 , Latest end: 2025-09-30
Organization Acoustic Robotics for Life Sciences and Healthcare (ARSL)
Hosts Medany Mahmoud
Topics Engineering and Technology , Physics
Loosely Guided Reinforcement Learning for Humanoid Parkour
Humanoid robots hold the promise of navigating complex, human-centric environments with agility and adaptability. However, training these robots to perform dynamic behaviors such as parkour—jumping, climbing, and traversing obstacles—remains a significant challenge due to the high-dimensional state and action spaces involved. Traditional Reinforcement Learning (RL) struggles in such settings, primarily due to sparse rewards and the extensive exploration needed for complex tasks. This project proposes a novel approach to address these challenges by incorporating loosely guided references into the RL process. Instead of relying solely on task-specific rewards or complex reward shaping, we introduce a simplified reference trajectory that serves as a guide during training. This trajectory, often limited to the robot's base movement, reduces the exploration burden without constraining the policy to strict tracking, allowing the emergence of diverse and adaptable behaviors. Reinforcement Learning has demonstrated remarkable success in training agents for tasks ranging from game playing to robotic manipulation. However, its application to high-dimensional, dynamic tasks like humanoid parkour is hindered by two primary challenges: Exploration Complexity: The vast state-action space of humanoids leads to slow convergence, often requiring millions of training steps. Reward Design: Sparse rewards make it difficult for the agent to discover meaningful behaviors, while dense rewards demand intricate and often brittle design efforts. By introducing a loosely guided reference—a simple trajectory representing the desired flow of the task—we aim to reduce the exploration space while maintaining the flexibility of RL. This approach bridges the gap between pure RL and demonstration-based methods, enabling the learning of complex maneuvers like climbing, jumping, and dynamic obstacle traversal without heavy reliance on reward engineering or exact demonstrations.
Keywords
humanoid, reinforcement learning, loosely guided
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-25
Organization ETH Competence Center - ETH AI Center
Hosts Li Chenhao , Li Chenhao , Li Chenhao , Li Chenhao
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences
Piezoelectric Atomization: Optimizing Liquid and Gel Dispersion
Piezoelectric elements are widely used for particle manipulation and atomization, with applications in humidification, cooling, and medical aerosol generation. However, temperature and environmental factors can impact the efficiency of vaporization and the properties of the generated droplets. Additionally, the heat generated by piezo elements affects particle size and flux, requiring careful control. This project will investigate the effect of piezoelectric elements on liquid and gel atomization, optimizing power consumption, repeatability, and calibration. A proof-of-concept demonstrator will be developed to study these parameters under controlled conditions. A successful outcome may lead to a subsequent R&D phase or PhD project in collaboration with Honeywell to further develop these findings
Keywords
Piezoelectric Atomization, Liquid/Gel Dispersion, Energy Efficiency, Particle Size Control, Low-Power Electronics
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-25 , Earliest start: 2025-02-25 , Latest end: 2025-09-30
Organization Acoustic Robotics for Life Sciences and Healthcare (ARSL)
Hosts Medany Mahmoud
Topics Engineering and Technology , Physics
Learning World Models for Legged Locomotion
Model-based reinforcement learning learns a world model from which an optimal control policy can be extracted. Understanding and predicting the forward dynamics of legged systems is crucial for effective control and planning. Forward dynamics involve predicting the next state of the robot given its current state and the applied actions. While traditional physics-based models can provide a baseline understanding, they often struggle with the complexities and non-linearities inherent in real-world scenarios, particularly due to the varying contact patterns of the robot's feet with the ground. The project aims to develop and evaluate neural network-based models for predicting the dynamics of legged environments, focusing on accounting for varying contact patterns and non-linearities. This involves collecting and preprocessing data from various simulation environment experiments, designing neural network architectures that incorporate necessary structures, and exploring hybrid models that combine physics-based predictions with neural network corrections. The models will be trained and evaluated on prediction autoregressive accuracy, with an emphasis on robustness and generalization capabilities across different noise perturbations. By the end of the project, the goal is to achieve an accurate, robust, and generalizable predictive model for the forward dynamics of legged systems.
Keywords
forward dynamics, non-smooth dynamics, neural networks, model-based reinforcement learning
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-25
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Li Chenhao , Li Chenhao , Li Chenhao , Li Chenhao
Topics Engineering and Technology
Developing Multi-Functional Microrobots Using Microfluidic Chips (3M project)
We are looking for a motivated Master’s student to join an exciting interdisciplinary thesis project, collaborating between the Multi-Scale Robotics Lab (D-MAVT) and the deMello group (D-CHAB) at ETH Zurich. This project focuses on creating a novel microfluidic-based bottom-up method to fabricate multifunctional microrobots. This innovative approach seeks to revolutionize microrobot fabrication, opening the door to diverse new applications.
Keywords
Microfluidics, Self-assembly, Microrobots
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Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-02-21 , Earliest start: 2025-02-17
Organization Multiscale Robotics Lab
Hosts Hu Minghan
Topics Engineering and Technology , Chemistry
Refining FEM Models for Predicting Fretting Fatigue Occurrence in Dental Implants
This project investigates fretting fatigue in dental implants, focusing on the impact of small, repeated interfacial movements on fatigue life. By analyzing existing fatigue test data, performing SEM-based failure analysis, and refining computational models, the goal is to better predict fretting mechanisms and reduce the need for extensive experimental testing.
Keywords
Fretting Fatigue Dental Implants Fatigue Testing Computational Modeling SEM Analysis
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-19 , Earliest start: 2025-04-01 , Latest end: 2025-07-01
Applications limited to ETH Zurich
Organization Experimental Continuum Mechanics
Hosts Hosseini Ehsan
Topics Engineering and Technology
Maturation Platform for Engineered 3D Muscle Tissues
The frontier of research in soft robotics aims at replacing classic soft materials used for actuators with biological ones (muscle) to take advantage of the innate adaptability, energy efficiency, and softness of biological systems. To grow more performant muscle tissues for robotics, we need to engineer a maturation platform for the muscle tissues that can provide the necessary mechanical and electrical cues. Therefore, in this project, we will aim to engineer a maturation platform for skeletal muscle bioactuators. The maturation platform will work as a device that applies cyclic stretch to the growing skeletal muscle tissue by pneumatic actuation. An initial prototype of the maturation platform has already been designed (see image). Your project will start from this prototype and do further optimization to result in a system that can give multiple stretching inputs to different muscle tissues.
Keywords
biohybrid robotics, soft robotics, 3D printing, biomaterials, actuation, material characterization
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-02-19 , Earliest start: 2025-02-20 , Latest end: 2025-10-31
Applications limited to EPFL - Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne , ETH Zurich , Empa , IBM Research Zurich Lab , University of Zurich
Organization Soft Robotics Lab
Hosts Balciunaite Aiste
Topics Engineering and Technology
Design and Force-feedback Control of a Robotic Platform for Autonomous Eye Injections
The objective of this project is to advance an existing robotic platform capable of autonomously delivering injections into the human eye. Rather than starting from scratch, the student will build on significant prior research. The primary task is to implement a force-feedback control algorithm that acts as the system’s safety mechanism. Specifically, the student will develop an admittance control algorithm, enabling the robot to adapt to unexpected disturbances by using real-time data from a 6D eye-tracking device and a force sensor.
Keywords
feedback control, admittance control, industrial design
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-19
Organization Multiscale Robotics Lab
Hosts Ehmke Claas
Topics Engineering and Technology
Design and Force-feedback Control of a Robotic Platform for Autonomous Eye Injections
The objective of this project is to advance an existing robotic platform capable of autonomously delivering injections into the human eye. Rather than starting from scratch, the student will build on significant prior research. The primary task is to implement a force-feedback control algorithm that acts as the system’s safety mechanism. Specifically, the student will develop an admittance control algorithm, enabling the robot to adapt to unexpected disturbances by using real-time data from a 6D eye-tracking device and a force sensor.
Keywords
feedback control, compliance control, industrial design
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-19 , Earliest start: 2025-02-20
Organization Multiscale Robotics Lab
Hosts Ehmke Claas
Topics Engineering and Technology
Continual Learning and Domain Adaptation Techniques for a Waste Monitoring System on an Ocean Cleanup Vessel
The Autonomous River Cleanup (ARC) is a student-led initiative supported by the Robotic Systems Lab, focused on tackling riverine waste pollution. In partnership with The SeaCleaners, a Swiss NGO, this thesis aims to develop a self-improving onboard waste quantification system for the “Mobula 10” vessel collecting floating waste in the South East Asian Sea. Currently, waste quantification relies on manually counting collected items. The goal of this thesis is to automate the process using computer vision and hardware solutions tailored to the vessel’s infrastructure and the environmental conditions on the sea. Key to this effort will be the integration of continual learning [1] and domain adaptation [2] techniques for computer vision algorithms to adapt models to diverse and changing waste items, ensuring consistent performance without full retraining. Lastly, the system will be evaluated in real-world conditions to propose further improvements.
Keywords
Computer Vision, Continual Learning, Field Testing
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-19 , Earliest start: 2025-02-19 , Latest end: 2025-12-31
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Stolle Jonas
Topics Engineering and Technology
Multi-View Detection and Classification under Occlusions
The Autonomous River Cleanup (ARC) is a student-led initiative supported by the Robotic Systems Lab tackling the problem of riverine waste. By joining ARC, you will help improve the vision pipeline in our robotic sorting station. Currently, we first detect and classify items in a detection box without occlusion of the conveyor belt and re-detect them in the robot workspace by performing object tracking to bridge the gap. This approach has proven to be computationally expensive and requires extensive engineering to handle occlusions. Instead, we aim to use multiple cameras pointed at the workspace of the robotic arm to perform occlusion-robust detection and classification of waste objects. By combining the information from the two cameras in an end-to-end model, we aim to obtain higher confidence detections for items visible by both cameras and detections of partially occluded items only visible by one camera.
Keywords
Object Detection & Classification, Computer Vision
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Published since: 2025-02-19 , Earliest start: 2025-02-19 , Latest end: 2025-06-30
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Stolle Jonas
Topics Engineering and Technology
Scalable manufacturing of granular biomaterials for wound healing
The development of biomaterials for chronic wound healing faces significant challenges in achieving shelf-stability, transportability, and compliance with clinical manufacturing standards. To address these hurdles, we aim to integrate a freeze-drying (lyophilization) step into the preparation of our granular hydrogels, facilitating storage and transport without compromising functionality. By validating the post-rehydration performance of lyophilized microgels, we aim to ensure the robustness of our product for clinical use.
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-18 , Earliest start: 2025-04-01 , Latest end: 2025-12-31
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Emiroglu Börte
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Chemistry , Biology
Ex vivo evaluation of wound healing using granular biomaterials
Chronic wound care is hindered by the complex and variable proteomic profiles of wound exudates, which limit the efficacy of existing therapies. We aim to validate the effectiveness of our granular hydrogel platform in restoring balance to the wound microenvironment. Utilizing exudates obtained from diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) patients, we will optimize our microgel library to target clinically relevant cytokine profiles.
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Semester Project , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-18 , Earliest start: 2025-03-01 , Latest end: 2025-12-31
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Emiroglu Börte , Singh Apoorv
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Chemistry , Biology
Market Analysis of Wound Care Therapies & Adoption Barriers
This project will explore the gaps in the wound care market, investigating why effective chronic wound treatments are lacking. The study will cover the full pipeline from development to clinical adoption and insurance reimbursement.
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-18 , Earliest start: 2025-03-01
Applications limited to Balgrist Campus , Berner Fachhochschule , CSEM - Centre Suisse d'Electronique et Microtechnique , Department of Quantitative Biomedicine , Empa , EPFL - Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne , ETH Zurich , Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau (FiBL) , Friedrich Miescher Institute , Hochschulmedizin Zürich , Institute for Research in Biomedicine , Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts , Pädagogische Hochschule St.Gallen , Paul Scherrer Institute , Sirm Institute for Regenerative Medicine , Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics , Swiss National Science Foundation , Università della Svizzera italiana , Université de Neuchâtel , University of Basel , University of Berne , University of Fribourg , University of Geneva , University of Lausanne , University of Lucerne , University of St. Gallen , University of Zurich , Zurich University of Applied Sciences , Zurich University of the Arts
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Emiroglu Börte
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Economics , Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services , Chemistry , Biology
Development of Core@Shell Magnetoelectric Nanoparticles for Targeted Brain Stimulation
Magnetoelectric materials are highly promising in biomedicine with their unique ability to couple magnetic and electric fields. This coupling allows remote and precise control of various biological processes. For instance, in drug delivery, magnetoelectric nanoparticles can be directed to specific locations in the body using an external magnetic field, followed by electrical stimulation to trigger the release of therapeutic agents. The responsiveness and multifunctionality make magnetoelectric nanoparticles versatile tools in advancing non-invasive medical treatments and targeted therapies.
Keywords
Surface engineering, Nanoparticles, Iron oxide, Barium titanate, Brain Stimulation
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-02-18 , Earliest start: 2025-02-24 , Latest end: 2025-06-01
Applications limited to ETH Zurich
Organization Multiscale Robotics Lab
Hosts Pustovalov Vitaly
Topics Engineering and Technology , Chemistry
Solvothermal Synthesis of Metal Ferrite Nanoparticles for Small-Scale Robotic Applications
Metal ferrite nanoparticles have gathered attention due to their promising characteristics for biomedical applications, such as targeted drug delivery or diagnostics. Nanoparticle properties (e.g., morphology, size, magnetic response) play a critical role to enhance their efficacy during the application. On the other hand, reproducibility is still a considerable challenge in most of the synthesis approaches.
Keywords
Nanoparticles, Magnetism, Microrobotics, Iron oxide
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-02-18 , Earliest start: 2025-02-24 , Latest end: 2025-06-01
Applications limited to ETH Zurich
Organization Multiscale Robotics Lab
Hosts Pustovalov Vitaly
Topics Engineering and Technology , Chemistry
Functional phenotyping of human brain organoids
Duplication 15q (Dup15q) syndrome is one of the most common forms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In Dup15q, the chromosome region 15q 11.2-13.1 is duplicated. Compared to other types of ASDs, it has been reported that individuals suffering from Dup15q show significantly more impairments in regard to motor- and daily living skills. Many Dup15q patients also have epilepsy, which is correlated to altered cognitive and adaptive functions. Recent studies using whole-cell patch clamp and calcium imaging techniques have demonstrated that Dup15 human neurons demonstrate significant differences in some electrophysiological parameters, indicating a hyperexcitability phenotype. These alterations were mainly attributed to overexpression of the protein UBE3A, but the exact mechanisms leading to this phenotype are not yet fully understood. In this project, we will use cerebral organoids generated from Dup15q patient derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines, and isogenic controls, to electrophysiologically characterize and model Dup15q syndrome in vitro. This project will also entail analysis of the electrophysiological data using computational methods such as spike sorting and functional connectivity analysis.
Keywords
Brain organoids, neurodevelopmental disorders, high-density microelectrode arrays
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Semester Project , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-17 , Earliest start: 2025-04-01 , Latest end: 2025-12-31
Organization Bio Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Schröter Manuel
Topics Medical and Health Sciences
Can we consider spore as ellipsoid polystyrene particles? – Characterization of ellipsoid polystyrene particles
This research focuses on understanding the colloidal behaviour of bacterial spores through diverse characterization techniques. Your work will focus on characterizing ellipsoid polystyrene particles instead of Bacillus subtilis spores. The same characterization experiments had already been conducted on Bacillus subtilis spores, providing valuable experience with the required procedures.
Keywords
Particle characterization, particle at interface
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Semester Project , Internship , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis , Summer School
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Published since: 2025-02-14 , Earliest start: 2025-03-02
Organization Interfaces, Soft matter and Assembly
Hosts Hu Yiyao
Topics Engineering and Technology
Jellyfish Robot Design and Acoustically Assisted Motion Control Using AI
Jellyfish-inspired robots have gained significant attention in soft robotics and biomimetic engineering due to their energy efficiency, silent propulsion, and adaptability to aquatic environments. The AI-powered Jellyfish robots offer a promising avenue for developing next-generation robotic systems with applications in biomedical research, environmental monitoring, and marine life interaction.
Keywords
AI-powered soft robotics, Jellyfish-inspired locomotion, Acoustically assisted propulsion, Machine learning-based motion control.
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Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-02-14 , Earliest start: 2025-02-17 , Latest end: 2025-07-31
Organization Acoustic Robotics for Life Sciences and Healthcare (ARSL)
Hosts Zhong Chengxi
Topics Engineering and Technology
Ultrasound Transducer Array based Helmet for Transcranial Therapy
Ultrasound-based transcranial therapy is emerging as a non-invasive and highly precise technique for treating neurological disorders, enhancing drug delivery, and promoting brain stimulation. By leveraging an advanced ultrasound transducer array embedded in a wearable helmet, this project aims to develop a novel system for targeted, real-time brain therapy
Keywords
Transcranial ultrasound therapy, Steering ultrasound field, Ultrasound transducer array design.
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Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-02-14 , Earliest start: 2025-02-17 , Latest end: 2025-07-31
Organization Acoustic Robotics for Life Sciences and Healthcare (ARSL)
Hosts Zhong Chengxi
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology
PDMS-Based Bioreactor to investigate cell behavior in response to Hydrostatic pressure and substrate stiffness
Introduction and Background Skin cells dynamically respond to mechanical and biochemical stimuli, which influence critical processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and migration. Mechanobiology, the study of these responses, requires advanced in vitro systems to emulate physiological conditions. This project utilizes a device designed for controlled manipulation of hydrostatic pressure (0.1–1.5 kPa) and substrate stiffness (0.1–100 kPa). The system facilitates isolated and scalable experiments to analyze how the interplay of these mechanical parameters affects cell behavior.
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Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-02-13 , Earliest start: 2025-03-01 , Latest end: 2025-08-31
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Binz Jonas
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Development of a Humanoid Robotic Hand based on electro-ionic fiber pumps
Development of a Humanoid Robotic Hand actuated using electro-ionic fiber pumps placed in the forearm in collaboration with EPFL.
Keywords
Soft Robotics, Humanoid Robotic Hand, Tendon driven, electro-ionic, fiber pump
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-13 , Earliest start: 2025-02-10 , Latest end: 2025-12-31
Applications limited to ETH Zurich
Organization Soft Robotics Lab
Hosts Hinchet Ronan , Kim Jaehoon , Katzschmann Robert, Prof. Dr.
Topics Engineering and Technology
Development of a linear electrostatic film actuator for a Humanoid Robotic Hand
Development of a linear electrostatic film actuator for soft robotic applications such as the actuation of a humanoid robotic hand.
Keywords
Electrostatic, Linear actuator, Flexible electronics, Soft Robotics, Humanoid Robotic Hands
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-13 , Earliest start: 2025-02-23 , Latest end: 2025-12-31
Organization Soft Robotics Lab
Hosts Katzschmann Robert, Prof. Dr.
Topics Engineering and Technology
Design and Fabrication of Dexterous, Humanoid Robotic Hand
Design and build dexterous human-like robotic hands with us at the Soft Robotics Lab and the spin-off mimic. We will explore different possibilities of developing design features such as tendon-driven mechanisms, lightweight structures, and complex mechanical joints of the hand. The developed features shall be integrated into a fully functional robotic hand and applied to solve practical manipulation challenges.
Keywords
humanoid, robotics, hand, dexterity, soft robotics, actuation, prototyping, modeling and control, mechatronics, biomimetic, design, 3D printing, silicone casting
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-13 , Earliest start: 2024-09-01 , Latest end: 2025-07-24
Organization Soft Robotics Lab
Hosts Hinchet Ronan , Katzschmann Robert, Prof. Dr. , Weirich Stefan
Topics Engineering and Technology
FPGA-based platform for in-vitro neural interfaces
The student will develop an FPGA-based platform for interacting with in-vitro neuronal cultures, including real-time spike detection and neuron stimulation. The project is focused on VHDL programming, although it could include other software development and/or wet-lab tasks with neurons depending on the interests of the student.
Keywords
VHDL; FPGA; Engineering; Neural interface; In-vitro neuronal culture; CMOS Microelectrode Array; Neuroscience.
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Semester Project , Internship , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-12 , Earliest start: 2022-09-01
Organization Bio Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Cardes Fernando
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Living Composite Material
Microorganisms that can be found everywhere in our environment are able to produce a variety of molecules from very simple precursors. Some of the products synthetized by bacteria are materials with fascinating properties such as cellulose with excellent mechanical properties. Materials produced by living cells are attractive because they are produced with minimal energy input and are based on green chemicals. Moreover, if well-designed, these materials still contain the living cells and are thus able to react onto external stimuli. Therefore, they have the potential to repair themselves upon damage or form materials with locally defined microstructures and architectures.
Keywords
Living Materials, Bacteria, Material Science, Master Thesis
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Semester Project , Internship , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis , Master Project (D-MATL)
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Published since: 2025-02-12 , Earliest start: 2024-01-08
Organization Complex Materials
Hosts Steinacher Mathias, Mr.
Topics Engineering and Technology , Chemistry , Biology
Design of analog front-end for CMOS-based neural interfaces
This project focuses on the design of low-noise, low-power, compact amplifiers for next-generation neural interfaces.
Keywords
Microelectronics, VLSI, CMOS, LNA, electronics, analog integrated circuit design, neural interface.
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Semester Project , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-12 , Earliest start: 2024-07-01
Organization Bio Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Cardes Fernando
Topics Engineering and Technology
Supervised learning for loco-manipulation
To spot arm operations, we propose a multi-phase approach combining supervised learning and reinforcement learning (RL). First, we will employ supervised learning to develop a model for solving inverse kinematics (IK), enabling precise joint angle calculations from desired end-effector pose. Next, we will utilize another supervised learning technique to build a collision avoidance model, trained to predict and avoid self-collisions based on arm configurations and environmental data. With these pre-trained networks, we will then integrate RL to generate dynamic and safe arm-motion plans. The RL agent will leverage the IK and collision avoidance models to optimize arm trajectories, ensuring efficient and collision-free movements. This entire pipeline could be back propagated while promising to enhance the accuracy, safety, and flexibility of robotic arm operations in complex environments.
Keywords
Spot, Supervised learning, loco-manipulation
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Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-02-10 , Earliest start: 2025-02-10 , Latest end: 2026-03-01
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Mirrazavi Sina
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences
Model-Based Reinforcement Learning for Loco-manipulation
This project aims to develop a model-based reinforcement learning (RL) framework to enable quadruped robots to perform dynamic locomotion and manipulation simultaneously by leveraging advanced model-based RL algorithms such as DeamerV3, TDMPC2 and SAM-RL. We will develop control policies that can predict future states and rewards, enabling the robot to adapt its behavior on-the-fly. The primary focus will be on achieving stable and adaptive walking patterns while reaching and grasping objects. The outcome will provide insights into the integration of complex behaviors in robotic systems, with potential applications in service robotics and automated object handling.
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Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-02-10 , Earliest start: 2025-02-10 , Latest end: 2026-02-10
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Mirrazavi Sina
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences
Integrating OpenVLA for Vision-Language-Driven Loco-Manipulation robotics scenarios
This thesis proposes to integrate and adapt the OpenVLA (Open-Source Vision-Language-Action) model to control the Spot robotic arm for performing complex grasping and placing tasks. The study will focus on enabling the robot to recognize, grasp, and organize various toy-sized kitchen items based on human instructions. By leveraging OpenVLA's robust multimodal capabilities, this project aims to bridge the gap between human intent and robotic actions, enabling seamless task execution in unstructured environments. The research will explore the feasibility of fine-tuning OpenVLA for task-specific operations and evaluate its performance in real-world scenarios, providing valuable insights for advancing multimodal robotics.
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Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-02-10 , Earliest start: 2025-02-10 , Latest end: 2026-02-10
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Mirrazavi Sina
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences
Differentiable Simulation for Precise End-Effector Tracking
Unlock the potential of differentiable simulation on ALMA, a quadrupedal robot equipped with a robotic arm. Differentiable simulation enables precise gradient-based optimization, promising greater tracking accuracy and efficiency compared to standard reinforcement learning approaches. This project dives into advanced simulation and control techniques, paving the way for improvements in robotic trajectory tracking.
Keywords
Differentiable Simulation, Learning, ALMA
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-07 , Earliest start: 2025-01-27
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Mittal Mayank , Schwarke Clemens , Klemm Victor
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences
Modeling and Simulation for Earthwork in Digital Twin
In this work, we aim to build a digital twin of our autonomous hydraulic excavator, leveraging Mathworks technology for high-fidelity modeling. This will be used in the future to test and benchmark our learning-based controllers.
Keywords
Modeling, Hydraulics, Excavation, Industry
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Semester Project , Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-02-06 , Earliest start: 2025-03-03
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Spinelli Filippo , Nan Fang
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Improvements of the Detection Block of a Rapid PCR diagnostic device in a medtech startup
diaxxo, a start-up from ETH Zürich, is transforming molecular diagnostics with an innovative Point-of-Care Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) device. This project aims to enhance the detection module of Diaxxo's Point-of-Care Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) system by improving light uniformity to ensure precise and reliable optical detection. The redesigned detection block will be compatible with Diaxxo's existing cartridges and support multiplexing with up to three distinct light channels. High light uniformity across the cartridge will be a key focus to enhance detection accuracy and reliability. Additionally, the project emphasizes cost-effective design, leveraging affordable materials and methods to maintain performance without increasing production costs.
Keywords
Optical Detection Fluorescence-Based Methods Light Uniformity Fiber Optics Multiplexing PCR Diagnostics Thermocycling Cost-Effective Design Point-of-Care Systems Molecular Diagnostics
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-05 , Earliest start: 2025-01-01 , Latest end: 2025-09-01
Organization Functional Materials Laboratory
Hosts Gregorini Michele
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Physics
Design data acquisition solution for smart clothing
The aim of this project is to develop and improve wearable electronics solutions for data acquisition from textile-based sensors used in our smart clothing.
Keywords
smart clothing, wearable technology, textile sensor, fitness tracking, sports medicine, PCB, electronics, computer science
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-05 , Earliest start: 2023-09-15 , Latest end: 2025-08-31
Organization Biomedical and Mobile Health Technology Lab
Hosts Ahmadizadeh Chakaveh
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Untethered ultrafast-rotating spiral microrobot for physical thrombolysis
The ability to manipulate micro-scale objects with precision is a growing field in biomedical engineering, particularly in the context of treating thrombotic conditions. Thrombolysis, the process of dissolving blood clots, remains a significant challenge in medical treatment, with current techniques often limited by their invasiveness and effectiveness. Recent advancements have explored the use of microrobots for targeted thrombolysis, leveraging their ability to maneuver in complex biological environments to enhance clot dissolution and drug delivery. Rotation plays a crucial role in various natural processes, including feeding and locomotion, demonstrating its effectiveness in achieving complex interactions with the environment. However, achieving ultrafast rotation in artificial microrobots presents significant engineering challenges. Traditional methods of inducing rotation, such as acoustic manipulation, have shown promise but are often constrained by limitations in rotational speed and control precision. These constraints hinder the microrobot's ability to effectively engage with functions. In response to these challenges, we introduce an innovative solution: an untethered ultrafast-rotating spiral microrobot designed for physical thrombolysis. This microrobot employs a symmetric spiral structure that generates a consistent torque while maintaining a zero net force, allowing for sustained high-speed rotation. The unique design of the spiral structure ensures efficient rotational motion, overcoming previous limitations in rotation speed. A key feature of our microrobot is its sharp-tip design, which enhances its ability to penetrate and mechanically disrupt thrombi. This mechanical drilling action facilitates the breakdown of clots, making thrombolysis more effective. Additionally, the microrobot incorporates a drug-holding cavity, enabling it to deliver therapeutic agents directly to the site of the thrombus. This dual functionality—mechanical disruption combined with targeted drug delivery—promises a more efficient approach to thrombolysis. This ultrafast-rotating microrobot represents a significant advancement in microrobot design and its application in medical treatments.
Keywords
Keywords: Rotation; acoustic microrobot; thrombolysis
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-05 , Earliest start: 2025-02-06 , Latest end: 2025-09-30
Organization Acoustic Robotics for Life Sciences and Healthcare (ARSL)
Hosts Deng Yong
Topics Engineering and Technology
Designing Freeform Trajectories through Acoustic Streaming and Artificial Intelligence
The manipulation of materials and fluids through acoustic streaming has emerged as a powerful technique with applications in manufacturing and biomedical engineering. This method utilizes sound waves to control the movement of particles within a fluid, offering precise and non-invasive manipulation. However, achieving freeform path manipulation—guiding materials along complex, non-linear trajectories—remains a significant challenge due to difficulties in controlling the influence range and vortex dynamics of acoustic streaming. Traditional methods often struggle with maintaining precision and stability along intricate paths, as the non-uniform distribution of acoustic forces complicates consistent directionality. Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents a promising solution, enabling real-time control and optimization of these systems. By integrating AI with acoustic streaming, algorithms can analyze and predict the interactions between acoustic forces and fluid dynamics, allowing for dynamic adjustments that enhance accuracy. In this thesis, we propose addressing these challenges by implementing a pillar array of acoustic actuators coupled with AI-driven control systems. The pillar array will generate and modulate acoustic streaming fields, while AI will optimize and automate their control in real time. This integration aims to improve the precision of freeform path manipulation, facilitating the creation of complex patterns that are otherwise difficult to achieve, thereby expanding the possibilities for material manipulation across various applications.
Keywords
Freeform path; Manipulation; Ultrasound; pillar array; AI
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-05 , Earliest start: 2025-02-06 , Latest end: 2025-09-30
Organization Acoustic Robotics for Life Sciences and Healthcare (ARSL)
Hosts Deng Yong
Topics Engineering and Technology
Computational Modeling of Muscle Dynamics for Biohybrid Robots
This research aims to advance biohybrid robotics by integrating living biological components with artificial materials. The focus is on developing computational models for artificial muscle cells, a critical element in creating biohybrid robots. Challenges include modeling the complex and nonlinear nature of biological muscles, considering factors like elasticity and muscle fatigue, as well as accounting for fluid-structure interaction in the artificial muscle's environment. The research combines first principle soft body simulation methods and machine learning to improve understanding and control of biohybrid systems.
Keywords
Biohybrid Robotics, Computational Models, Soft Body Simulation, Finite Element Method (FEM), Muscle Dynamics, Soft Robotics
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-04 , Earliest start: 2025-02-01 , Latest end: 2026-02-01
Organization Soft Robotics Lab
Hosts Mekkattu Manuel , Katzschmann Robert, Prof. Dr.
Topics Mathematical Sciences , Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Biology , Physics
GPU Acceleration of Soft Robot Modeling: Enhancing Performance with CUDA
We are enhancing soft robot modeling by developing a GPU-accelerated version of our FEM-based framework using CUDA. This research focuses on optimizing parallel computations to significantly speed up simulations, enabling larger problem sizes and real-time control. By improving computational efficiency, we aim to advance soft robotics research and facilitate more detailed, dynamic simulations.
Keywords
Soft Body Simulation, high-performance computing, GPU programming, Parallel Computing, Finite Element Method (FEM), Multiphysics Simulation
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-04 , Earliest start: 2025-02-01 , Latest end: 2026-02-01
Organization Soft Robotics Lab
Hosts Katzschmann Robert, Prof. Dr. , Mekkattu Manuel
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Advancing Soft Robot Modeling: Integrating Physics, Optimization, and Control
We are advancing soft robot simulation with FEM and energy-based methods to model complex, adaptive behaviors. This research entails developing the framework to support diverse designs, integrate new physics models, and optimize performance, enabling enhanced control and real-world applications of soft robots.
Keywords
Soft Robotics, Finite Element Method (FEM), Physical Modeling, Benchmarking, Optimization, Multiphysics Simulation, Sim-to-Real
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-04 , Earliest start: 2025-02-01 , Latest end: 2026-02-01
Organization Soft Robotics Lab
Hosts Mekkattu Manuel , Katzschmann Robert, Prof. Dr.
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Reinforcement Learning for Excavation Planning In Terra
We aim to develop a reinforcement learning-based global excavation planner that can plan for the long term and execute a wide range of excavation geometries. The system will be deployed on our legged excavator.
Keywords
Keywords: Reinforcement learning, task planning
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Semester Project , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-03 , Earliest start: 2025-03-01 , Latest end: 2025-08-31
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Terenzi Lorenzo
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences
Model Based Reinforcement Learning
We want to train an excavator agent to learn in a variety of soil using a fast, GPU-accelerated soil particle simulator in Isaac Sim.
Keywords
particle simulation, omniverse, warp, reinforcement learning, model based reinforcement learning.
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Semester Project , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-03 , Earliest start: 2025-02-28 , Latest end: 2025-08-31
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Egli Pascal Arturo , Terenzi Lorenzo
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Reinforcement Learning for Particle-Based Excavation in Isaac Sim
We want to train RL agents on our new particle simulator, accelerated on the GPU via warp in Isaac sim.
Keywords
particle simulation, omniverse, warp, reinforcement learning
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Semester Project , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-03 , Earliest start: 2025-03-01 , Latest end: 2025-09-30
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Egli Pascal Arturo , Mittal Mayank , Terenzi Lorenzo
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences
Perceptive Reinforcement Learning for Exavation
In this project, our goal is to leverage precomputed embeddings(VAE in Isaacsim) from 3D earthworks scene reconstructions to train reinforcement learning agents. These embeddings, derived from incomplete point cloud data and reconstructed using an encoder-decoder neural network, will serve as latent representations. The main emphasis is on utilizing these representations to develop and train reinforcement learning policies for digging tasks.
Keywords
LIDAR, 3D reconstruction, Isaac gym, deep learning, perception, reinforcement learning
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Semester Project , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-03 , Earliest start: 2025-01-01 , Latest end: 2025-08-31
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Höller David , Terenzi Lorenzo
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences
Reiforcement Learning of Pretrained Trasformer Models
We want to train RL agents on our new particle simulator, accelerated on the GPU via warp in Isaac sim.
Keywords
Keywords: particle simulation, omniverse, warp, reinforcement learning
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Semester Project , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-03 , Earliest start: 2025-03-01 , Latest end: 2025-08-31
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Terenzi Lorenzo
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences
Multiagent Reinforcement Learning in Terra
We want to train multiple agents in the Terra environment, a fully end-to-end GPU-accelerated environment for RL training.
Keywords
multiagent reinforcement learning, jax, deep learning, planning
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Semester Project , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-03 , Earliest start: 2025-03-01 , Latest end: 2025-07-31
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Terenzi Lorenzo
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences
Synthesis and characterization of Na-Fe-Mn-Ni-oxide cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries
Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) present a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries, attracting significant interest due to their low cost and the abundance of sodium resources. Among the key cathode materials for SIBs are sodium transition metal oxides containing Ni, Mn, and Fe. Depending on their metal composition and defect concentration, these oxides exhibit different crystallographic phases, leading to variations in their material and electrochemical properties. This master thesis is part of a broader project aimed at investigating the material and electrochemical properties of a wide range of sodium-based cathode materials. Building on our recent research on lithium-ion battery cathode materials, the primary objective of this thesis is to synthesize and characterize selected cathode materials within the Na-Fe-Mn-Ni oxide system and identify property trends. Through this project, the student will gain hands-on experience in cathode material synthesis and characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), as well as in cell assembly and battery testing. Students with a background in materials science or chemistry are encouraged to apply.
Keywords
sodium ion batteries, cathode materials, electrochemistry, energy storage
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-31 , Earliest start: 2025-03-03 , Latest end: 2025-12-31
Applications limited to ETH Zurich , EPFL - Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Organization Materials and Device Engineering Group (Wood)
Hosts Shunmugasundaram Ramesh
Topics Engineering and Technology , Chemistry
Propose Your Own Robotics Challenge
This project invites you to step into the role of an innovator, encouraging you to identify challenges you are passionate about within the field of robotics. Rather than working on predefined problems, you will have the freedom to propose your own project ideas, address real-world issues, or explore cutting-edge topics. This project allows you to define your own research journey.
Keywords
Robotics, Research
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-28 , Earliest start: 2025-01-27
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Schwarke Clemens , Bjelonic Filip , Klemm Victor
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences
Development of a direct CO2 measurement device to quantify the CO2 sequestration ability by photosynthetic living materials
This project centers around designing a CO2 measurement chamber to quantify the amount of CO2 sequestration by photosynthetic living materials.
Keywords
CO2 sequestration, device design photosynthetic living materials, bioengineering
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Bachelor Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-28 , Earliest start: 2025-01-30 , Latest end: 2025-10-31
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Binz Jonas
Topics Engineering and Technology
Inline Quality Control with image analysis & AI
diaxxo, a start-up from ETH Zürich, is revolutionizing molecular diagnostics with a cutting-edge Point-of-Care PCR device. Their innovative technology facilitates rapid, accurate diagnostic testing across human, veterinary, and food applications, especially in developing countries. The PCR process amplifies DNA sequences to identify pathogens accurately. Key to diaxxo's system are specialized aluminum cartridges containing pre-loaded, dried reagents, essential for precise diagnostics. However, current manufacturing challenges in reagent loading and drying affect cartridge quality. The project aims to develop a Quality Control station using advanced imaging and AI to ensure accurate reagent placement and drying, enhancing diagnostic reliability and effectiveness.
Keywords
Image Analysis, AI Technology, High-Resolution Imaging, Visual Data, Quality Control (QC), Automated Decision Making, Defect Detection, Machine Learning, pattern Recognition, Real-Time Analysis
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-27 , Earliest start: 2024-07-21 , Latest end: 2025-06-30
Organization Functional Materials Laboratory
Hosts Gregorini Michele
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Designing photosynthetic living materials with synthetic biology
Living materials, as an emerging field that combines biology and material science, are materials composed of immobilized living organisms and a carrier matrix providing pre-determined bio-functionality. [1,2] Living materials bring about new properties that are not easily realised by conventional materials. Here, we aim to design a new type of living materials that can sequester and store atmospheric CO2 irreversibly in the form of calcium carbonate minerals.
Keywords
living materials, synthetic biology, microorganisms
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Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-01-27 , Earliest start: 2025-02-05 , Latest end: 2025-10-31
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Cui Yifan
Topics Engineering and Technology
Data Driven Simulation for End-to-End Navigation
Investigate how neural rendering can become the backbone of comprehensive, next generation data-driven simulation
Keywords
Neural rendering, Simulation
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Internship , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-24 , Earliest start: 2025-01-27
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Kneip Laurent
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Evolving Minds: Neuroevolution for Legged Locomotion
This project explores the use of neuroevolution for optimizing control policies in legged robots, moving away from classical gradient-based methods like PPO. Neuroevolution directly optimizes network parameters and structures, potentially offering advantages in environments with sparse rewards, while requiring fewer hyperparameters to tune. By leveraging genetic algorithms and evolutionary strategies, the project aims to develop efficient controllers for complex locomotion tasks. With computational capabilities doubling approximately every two years as predicted by Moore's Law, neuroevolution offers a promising approach for scaling intelligent control systems.
Keywords
Evolutionary Algorithms, Reinforcement Learning, Quadrupeds, Legged Locomotion
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-22 , Earliest start: 2025-01-27
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Bjelonic Filip , Schwarke Clemens
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences
Development of instrumentation and analytics for powder bed quality for additive manufacturing
The quality of powder bed-based additive manufacturing processes is heavily dependent on the uniformity and repeatability of the powder spreading process. Left undetected, deviations in the powder bed can result in defective parts, which may lead to catastrophic failures. This project is to develop instrumentation and signal processing algorithms that can detect and classify anomalies in the powder bed of a metal 3D printer based on image recognition, machine learning, and/or artificial intelligence.
Keywords
Mechanical design, instrumentation, signal processing, image processing, statistics, additive manufacturing, 3D printing, quality control, machine learning, artificial intelligence, image recognition, neural network
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-20 , Earliest start: 2023-10-23 , Latest end: 2024-10-22
Organization Institute of Machine Tools and Manufacturing
Hosts Tucker Michael Robert
Topics Engineering and Technology
Design and fabrication of thermally tunable metallic structures
Certain design applications require structures that remain dimensionally stable despite large swings in ambient temperature. Typically, these make use of exotic materials that are highly toxic and challenging to machine. In this project, we will investigate the producibility of dimensionally stable metallic structures that are produced from conventional materials via a novel additive manufacturing (i.e. 3D printing) process.
Keywords
Mechanical engineering, materials engineering, finite element modeling, structural design and analysis, 3D printing, additive manufacturing
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-20 , Earliest start: 2022-10-05 , Latest end: 2023-10-04
Applications limited to ETH Zurich , EPFL - Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne , CSEM - Centre Suisse d'Electronique et Microtechnique , Empa
Organization Institute of Machine Tools and Manufacturing
Hosts Tucker Michael Robert
Topics Engineering and Technology
Control Software Development for Advanced Laser Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing
In this project, software will be written to enable advanced multi-laser and beam shaping process control for deployment to a commercial laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing machine.
Keywords
Mechanical engineering, electrical and control systems, software development, 3D printing, additive manufacturing
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-20 , Earliest start: 2022-10-05 , Latest end: 2023-10-04
Organization Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory
Hosts Tucker Michael Robert
Topics Engineering and Technology
Breathable hydrogel fabric electrodes for myoelectric signal detection
The goal of this project is to develop a flexible electronic system based on breathable hydrogel electrodes on everyday fabric substrates for myoelectric signal detection.
Keywords
textile, wearable, hydrogel, electrode, electromyography
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Semester Project , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-20 , Earliest start: 2025-03-01 , Latest end: 2025-06-01
Organization Biomedical and Mobile Health Technology Lab
Hosts Yang Weifeng
Topics Engineering and Technology
Mechanophores for advanced wearable strain and pressure sensors
The goal of the project is to synthesize and characterize a number of small molecules capable of acting as mechanophore addition to various polymers. These polymers would then be used as wearable strain or pressure sensors.
Keywords
mechanophore, polymer, wearable, sensor, color, strain, pressure
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-20 , Earliest start: 2024-09-01 , Latest end: 2025-09-01
Organization Biomedical and Mobile Health Technology Lab
Hosts Shokurov Aleksandr
Topics Engineering and Technology , Chemistry
Point-of-Care Sensor for Urinary Iodine
The goal of the project is to develop a cheap and disposable sensor capable of determination of iodine levels in human urine for early diagnostic purposes.
Keywords
electrochemistry, iodine, nutrition, health, point of care
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-20 , Earliest start: 2025-01-01 , Latest end: 2025-10-01
Organization Biomedical and Mobile Health Technology Lab
Hosts Shokurov Aleksandr
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Chemistry
Open Position for part time job - MedTech Startup
Diaxxo, an innovative ETH Zürich spinoff, is transforming diagnostics with cutting-edge PCR technology that combines lab-grade accuracy with field-ready simplicity. Our mission is to enable faster, affordable, and accessible detection of viral and bacterial infections, driving impact in animal health, food safety, and human diagnostics. We are seeking a motivated student or part-time worker to join our team in Zürich, starting February 2025 (or a mutually agreed date). This role involves contributing to the assembly of devices and cartridges, lab-based tasks, and quality control. It’s an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a dynamic startup environment while supporting our mission to revolutionize diagnostics. No specific experience is required—just motivation, commitment, and adaptability.
Keywords
Diagnostics PCR Technology Innovation Start-up Biotechnology Viral Detection Quality Control Device Assembly Healthcare Startup Part-time student work
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Collaboration , Internship , Lab Practice , Student Assistant / HiWi , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-01-20 , Earliest start: 2025-02-01 , Latest end: 2025-08-31
Organization Functional Materials Laboratory
Hosts Gregorini Michele
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Chemistry
Photoresponsive slide-ring hydrogels for on-demand modulation of mechanical properties
Hydrogel materials are crosslinked polymer networks with reversible swelling, tunable porosity, elasticity, toughness, and flexibility. Conventional hydrogels often suffer from weak mechanical properties and display brittle and unstable behaviour limiting their scope for load-bearing applications. Such networks consist of side-chain functionalized polymers, whose covalent crosslinks occur at fixed positions on the polymer backbone (Figure 1A). Upon deformation, tensile stress is concentrated on the closest neighboring crosslinks, eventually leading to their rupture and material failure. Hence, the molecular design of high-performance hydrogels with toughness and elasticity similar to rubber is an emerging area of research in the engineering of polymeric materials with applications towards robust medical materials or soft robotics.
Keywords
Slide-Ring Gels, Supramolecular Chemistry, High-Performance Hydrogels
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-16 , Earliest start: 2024-07-18
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Mommer Stefan
Topics Engineering and Technology , Chemistry
Design of a Compliant Mechanism for Human-Robot Collaborative Transportation with Non-Holonomic Robots
Human-robot collaboration is an attractive option in many industries for transporting long and heavy items with a single operator. In this project, we aim to enable HRC transportation with a non-holonomic robotic base platform by designing a compliant manipulation mechanism, inspired by systems like the Omnid Mocobots.
Keywords
Human-robot collaboration Collaborative transportation Non-holonomic robot Mobile manipulation
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Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-01-16 , Earliest start: 2024-07-08
Applications limited to ETH Zurich
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Kindle Julien , Bray Francesca
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Conductive polymer pattern deposition for smart textile applications
The goal of the project is to develop a simple and versatile method for production of robust conductive patterns on textile via deposition of conductive polymers. This technology will allow further development of wearable electronics for biomedical applications.
Keywords
wearable, smart textile, conducting polymer, polymerization, capacitance, conductivity
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Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-15 , Earliest start: 2024-08-01 , Latest end: 2025-08-01
Organization Biomedical and Mobile Health Technology Lab
Hosts Shokurov Aleksandr
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Chemistry
Combining Melt electrowritten tubular scaffolds with gels towards a vascular graft
In this project we would like to further explore if we can use our established Melt electrowritten tubular scaffolds and combine them with gels toward the application for vascular grafts. Melt electrowritten scaffolds allow us to finely control the wall geometry, which leads to controlled mechanical properties as well as porosity. However there are some limitations with this technology. This is where the addition of gels in the scaffold wall could benefit with porosity control, leackage as well as possible cell growth benefits. Therefore we would like to investigate which gel would be viable for the application of a vascular graft based on mechanical and biological needs. We would find possible solutions to combine MEW scaffolds with gels and practically try different methods. Once a protocol(s) are established we would perform quantitative and mechanical characterisation and compare it to MEW only scaffolds as well as native tissues.
Keywords
Melt electrowriting, Electrospinning, vascular grafts, scaffold production, mechanical tests, additive manufacturing, gels, hydrogels
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Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-01-13 , Earliest start: 2025-01-12 , Latest end: 2025-10-31
Organization Tissue Mechanobiology
Hosts Pizorn Jaka
Topics Engineering and Technology
Master thesis project - Biomechanical relationships between spinal loads and kinematic parameters in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis during walking
Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a condition characterized by the narrowing of the lumbar spinal canal, resulting in compression of the nerve roots or cauda equina. Patients with LSS often exhibit altered spinal kinematics and compensatory movement patterns, which can increase paraspinal muscle activity and segmental loads. This study aims to estimate the spinal loads in LSS patients using an advanced full-body musculoskeletal model within the AnyBody Modeling System, incorporating patient-specific motion-capture data. Gaining a deeper understanding of the differences in spinal kinematics between LSS patients and healthy individuals, and their effects on spinal loading, could inform more effective treatment and rehabilitation strategies.
Keywords
Spine biomechanics, musculoskeletal multi-body modeling, inverse dynamics simulation, motion capture, computational study, gait
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-10 , Earliest start: 2024-12-01 , Latest end: 2025-06-30
Organization Musculoskeletal Biomechanics
Hosts Caimi Alice
Topics Engineering and Technology
Characterising mechanical properties of tubular scaffolds for artificial blood vessels manufactured by melt electrowriting
While we have performed some basic mechanical tests to characterize Melt electrowritten tubular scaffolds, we would like to add other mechanical tests, based on ASTM standards, that would further allow us to have a better insight into mechanical properties of MEW scaffolds as well as to compare them to other vascular grafts as well as native tissues. Therefore we are searching for a motivated student who can see themself performing practical work producing tubular scaffolds as well as implementing mechanical tests.
Keywords
Melt electrowriting, Electrospinning, vascular grafts, scaffold production, mechanical tests, additive manufacturing
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Semester Project , Internship , Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-01-10 , Earliest start: 2025-01-12 , Latest end: 2025-08-31
Organization Tissue Mechanobiology
Hosts Pizorn Jaka
Topics Engineering and Technology
Advanced Co-Design Framework for Legged Robots
This project seeks to advance the field of legged robotics by creating a versatile and accessible co-design framework that integrates mechanical design and control optimization.
Keywords
co-design, optimization, legged robotics, optimal control, reinforcement learning, mechanical design
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Semester Project , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-09 , Earliest start: 2024-08-03
Organization Computational robotics laboratory (Prof. Stelian Coros)
Hosts Fadini Gabriele
Topics Mathematical Sciences , Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology
CFD Simulations and Experimental Analysis of Bubble Nucleation and Growth in Foam Additive Manufacturing (FAM)
Foam Additive Manufacturing (FAM) integrates 3D printing with physical blowing agents (PBAs) to produce lightweight, porous structures. The extrusion process, which involves a polymer-PBA solution, is critical for foam formation [1]. Bubble nucleation and growth occur due to rapid pressure drops and temperature changes within the extruder nozzle.
Keywords
Printing, FDM, Foams, plastics, Additive Manufacturing, AM
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-09 , Earliest start: 2025-01-09 , Latest end: 2026-01-01
Organization Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory
Hosts Tosoratti Enrico
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Chemistry , Biology
Nanometric Thin Films for Brain Stimulation Implants
This project aims to fabricate and characterize thin films of ceramic oxides (with thickness in the nanometer range) which have potential applications in biomedical devices, such as implanted flexible electronics (Fig. a) and functional microrobots (Fig. b).
Keywords
Materials science, Thin films, Brain Implants, Microrobots
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-08 , Earliest start: 2025-01-19 , Latest end: 2026-12-31
Organization Multiscale Robotics Lab
Hosts Mirjolet Mathieu
Topics Engineering and Technology , Physics
How to Touch: Exploring Tactile Representations for Reinforcement Learning
Developing and benchmarking tactile representations for dexterous manipulation tasks using reinforcement learning.
Keywords
Reinforcement Learning, Dexterous Manipulation, Tactile Sensing
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-08 , Earliest start: 2024-12-15 , Latest end: 2025-06-01
Applications limited to ETH Zurich
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Bhardwaj Arjun , Zurbrügg René
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences
Development of a Giant Humanoid Robotic Hand
Development of a Giant Humanoid Robotic Hand for the rapid deployment and handling of equipment in flooding and earthquake disaster scenarios
Keywords
Soft Robotics, Humanoid Robotic Hand, Tendon driven, Dexterous manipulator, Rolling contact joints
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Semester Project , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-06 , Earliest start: 2025-01-06 , Latest end: 2025-08-31
Organization Soft Robotics Lab
Hosts Hinchet Ronan , Katzschmann Robert, Prof. Dr.
Topics Engineering and Technology
Development of sensor networks integrated on scaly artificial robotic skins
Development of a multi-sensory network integrated on artificial scales serving as soft robotic skin for robotic limbs
Keywords
Soft Robotics, robotic skin, sensor network, artificial scale, sensory scales
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Semester Project , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-06 , Earliest start: 2025-01-06 , Latest end: 2025-08-31
Organization Soft Robotics Lab
Hosts Hinchet Ronan , Katzschmann Robert, Prof. Dr. , Kim Jaehoon
Topics Engineering and Technology
Assembly Assistant: Crafting your robotic companion for teamwork
This project is inspired by the vision of seamless human-robot collaboration in household settings. As our homes become smarter, the need for robotic systems that can work alongside humans to perform tasks with precision and adaptability is growing. This project empowers individuals to design and build a robotic companion tailored to assist with household tasks like assembling furniture. By fostering teamwork between humans and robots, the project highlights how technology can enhance everyday life, promoting efficiency, creativity, and a shared sense of accomplishment. It envisions a future where robots are not just tools but collaborative partners, making home life easier, more productive, and more enjoyable for everyone.
Keywords
human-robot collaboration, egocentric vision, dexterous manipulation
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Semester Project , Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-01-06 , Earliest start: 2025-01-13
Organization Computer Vision and Geometry Group
Hosts Wang Xi , Gavryushin Alexey , Yang Chenyu
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences
Enhancing performance of electrostatic rotational motors for the next generation of robotic actuators
This project aims to enhance an electrostatic actuator by improving its specific power and power density while optimizing its manufacturing process, through approaches such as mechanical redesign, materials innovation, or computational optimization.
Keywords
soft robotics, electrostatic motors, electrostatic actuators, mechanical design
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-05 , Earliest start: 2025-01-06 , Latest end: 2025-09-01
Organization Soft Robotics Lab
Hosts Katzschmann Robert, Prof. Dr. , Toshimitsu Yasunori , Kazemipour Amirhossein
Topics Engineering and Technology
Unraveling Calcium Dynamics and Immune Interactions in Bone Graft Substitute Environments through Advanced Ratiometric Imaging
This project endeavors to explore the dynamic interplay among calcium ions, bone graft substitutes, and resident immune cells in both orthotopic and ectopic environments, employing advanced ratiometric imaging techniques.
Keywords
Bone Graft Substitute, Calcium, Ratiometric Imaging, Immune Cells, in vitro, in vivo, Intravital Microscopy
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Semester Project , Internship , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2024-12-24 , Earliest start: 2024-10-01 , Latest end: 2025-06-30
Organization Müller Group / Laboratory for Bone Biomechanics
Hosts Wissmann Stefanie
Topics Engineering and Technology , Biology
Motion Imitation and Control for Humanoid Robot using Diffusion
To achieve effective and natural interaction, humanoid robots may need to closely imitate human motion, which encompasses walking, object manipulation, and environmental interactions. Motion capture data, which captures human motion with high precision, serves as an excellent resource for training robotic systems to replicate human movements. Diffusion models are a class of generative models designed to handle multi-modal distributions, making them highly suitable for complex motion generation tasks. Recent state-of-the-art methods use diffusion to produce human like motions for character animation or to imitate human expert data for controlling robotic arms. The goal of this project is to explore diffusion approaches for imitating motion data from humans to obtain control policies for humanoid robots.
Keywords
RL, Imitation Learning, Robotics, Diffusion
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2024-12-21 , Earliest start: 2025-01-15 , Latest end: 2025-09-30
Applications limited to ETH Zurich , EPFL - Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Organization Computational robotics laboratory (Prof. Stelian Coros)
Hosts Zargarbashi Fatemeh
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Software Development Internship: Enabling In Vitro Neuroscience Research
This 6-month internship focuses on developing software for advanced neural interfaces used in in vitro studies. These interfaces enable precise exploration of neural activity, providing critical insights into neuronal dynamics, drug interactions, and neurological disorders. The project involves creating and optimizing software for data acquisition, analysis, and visualization, which directly enhances the usability and impact of these tools in research and healthcare applications. Ideal candidates will possess strong programming skills in Python, with a preference for knowledge also of C++ and Cython, and excellent documentation practices. This project is also available as Master thesis or semester project.
Keywords
Internship; Software development; Neural Interfaces; Neuroscience; Python; C++; Cython; Biomedical Research; Neuroengineering; Neurotechnology.
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Semester Project , Internship , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2024-12-21 , Earliest start: 2024-12-01
Organization Bio Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Cardes Fernando
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences
Development of a Heterocellular Human Bone Organoid for Precision Medicine and Treatment
Our goal is to establish a heterocellular 3D printed bone organoid model comprising all major bone cell types (osteoblasts, osteocytes, osteoclasts) to recapitulate bone remodeling units in an in vitro system. The organoids will be produced with the human cells, as they could represent human pathophysiology better than animal models, and eventually could replace them. These in vitro models could be used in the advancement of next-generation personalised treatment strategies. Our tools are different kinds of 3D bioprinting platforms, bio-ink formulations, hydrogels, mol-bioassays, and time-lapsed image processing of micro-CT scans.
Keywords
3D printing, bone organoids, co-culture, bioreactor, hydrogels, drug testing
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Semester Project , Internship , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2024-12-19 , Earliest start: 2022-08-01 , Latest end: 2025-11-30
Organization Müller Group / Laboratory for Bone Biomechanics
Hosts Steffi Chris
Topics Engineering and Technology , Biology
Generative Adversarial Networks for Autonomous Tool Wear Assessment
Tool wear has a significant impact on the productivity of machining processes. Currently, tools are replaced based on an estimate of their remaining life, often with significant safety margins that lead to inefficiency. Developments are underway to measure wear automatically by image segmentation of microscope images. Increasing the size of the training data set has a positive effect on the performance and robustness of deep learning systems. However, when it comes to tool wear, datasets are not openly available and are expensive and time consuming to create. This thesis builds on an existing segmentation pipeline and dataset of labeled war images. The goal is to leverage advanced deep learning techniques, such as Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) to create an improved, data-efficient pipeline. You will work towards a system that can classify and quantify different types of wear for objective tool condition monitoring.
Keywords
Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Tool Wear, Manufacturing Automation
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Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2024-12-18 , Earliest start: 2025-01-06 , Latest end: 2025-12-31
Organization Computational Modelling of Materials in Manufacturing
Hosts Zwicker Ruben
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology
BEV meets Semantic traversability
Enable Birds-Eye-View perception on autonomous mobile robots for human-like navigation.
Keywords
Semantic Traversability, Birds-Eye-View, Localization, SLAM, Object Detection
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Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2024-12-18 , Earliest start: 2025-01-15 , Latest end: 2025-10-31
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Gawel Abel
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Scene graphs for robot navigation and reasoning
Elevate semantic scene graphs to a new level and perform semantically-guided navigation and interaction with real robots at The AI Institute.
Keywords
Scene graphs, SLAM, Navigation, Spacial Reasoning, 3D reconstruction, Semantics
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Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2024-12-18 , Earliest start: 2025-01-15 , Latest end: 2025-10-31
Organization Robotic Systems Lab
Hosts Gawel Abel
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Development of Neuromuscular Biohybrid Robots
Biohybrid robots integrate living cells and synthetic components to achieve motion. These systems often rely on engineered skeletal muscle tissues that contract upon electrical stimulation for actuation. Neuromuscular-powered biohybrid robots take this concept further by integrating motor neurons to induce muscle contractions, mimicking natural muscle actuation. In our lab, we are developing neuromuscular actuators using advanced 3D co-culture systems and biofabrication techniques to enable functional macro-scale biohybrid robots.
Keywords
Tissue engineering, mechanical engineering, biology, neuroengineering, biomaterials, biohybrid robotics, 3D in vitro models, biofabrication, bioprinting, volumetric printing.
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2024-12-17 , Earliest start: 2025-01-15
Organization Soft Robotics Lab
Hosts Badolato Asia , Katzschmann Robert, Prof. Dr.
Topics Engineering and Technology , Biology
Digital Twin for Spot's Home
MOTIVATION ⇾ Creating a digital twin of the robot's environment is crucial for several reasons: 1. Simulate Different Robots: Test various robots in a virtual environment, saving time and resources. 2. Accurate Evaluation: Precisely assess robot interactions and performance. 3. Enhanced Flexibility: Easily modify scenarios to develop robust systems. 4. Cost Efficiency: Reduce costs by identifying issues in virtual simulations. 5. Scalability: Replicate multiple environments for comprehensive testing. PROPOSAL We propose to create a digital twin of our Semantic environment, designed in your preferred graphics Platform to be able to simulate Reinforcement Learning agents in the digital environment, to create a unified evaluation platform for robotic tasks.
Keywords
Digital Twin, Robotics
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Semester Project , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2024-12-17 , Earliest start: 2025-01-05
Applications limited to University of Zurich , ETH Zurich , EPFL - Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Organization Computer Vision and Geometry Group
Hosts Blum Hermann , Portela Tifanny , Bauer Zuria, Dr. , Trisovic Jelena
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences
KALLAX Benchmark: Evaluating Household Tasks
Motivation ⇾ There are three ways to evaluate robots for pick-and-place tasks at home: 1. Simulation setups: High reproducibility but hard to simulate real-world complexities and perception noise. 2. Competitions: Good for comparing overall systems but require significant effort and can't be done frequently. 3. Custom lab setups: Common but lead to overfitting and lack comparability between labs. Proposal ⇾ We propose using IKEA furniture to create standardized, randomized setups that researchers can easily replicate. E.g, a 4x4 KALLAX unit with varying door knobs and drawer positions, generating tasks like "move the cup from the upper right shelf into the black drawer." This prevents overfitting and allows for consistent evaluation across different labs.
Keywords
Benchmakr, Robotics, pick-and-place
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Semester Project , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2024-12-17 , Earliest start: 2025-01-06
Applications limited to University of Zurich , ETH Zurich , Swiss National Science Foundation , EPFL - Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Organization Computer Vision and Geometry Group
Hosts Blum Hermann , Bauer Zuria, Dr. , Zurbrügg René
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences
Quantifying the impact of network conditions on telesurgery performance and reliability
In this thesis, our goal is to quantify the impact of various network conditions (e.g., latency, congestion, packet loss) on the performance of stroke treatment via telesurgery. At ETH, we have established a real testbed equipped with agent controllers and robotic instruments, and the student’s role will be to simulate the network environment connecting these devices.
Keywords
Surgical robotics, network emulation, test setup design, user study
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2024-12-17 , Earliest start: 2025-02-01 , Latest end: 2025-12-31
Organization Multiscale Robotics Lab
Hosts Heemeyer Florian
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Activity and fatigue detection using machine learning based on real-world data from smart clothing
The aim of this project is to use machine learning methods to extract useful information such as activity type and fatigue level from real-world data acquired from our textile-based wearable technology during sport activities.
Keywords
smart clothing, wearable technology, textile sensor, fitness tracking, sports medicine, fatigue, machine learning, artificial intelligence, computer science
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2024-12-16 , Earliest start: 2023-09-15 , Latest end: 2024-05-31
Organization Biomedical and Mobile Health Technology Lab
Hosts Ahmadizadeh Chakaveh
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology