Pint of Robotics: Utibe Nkanga, Dr Jon Woolfrey, and Professor Pietro Valdastri

Speaker 1: Utibe Nkanga (PhD researcher in the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Leeds, University of Leeds)

Bio: His project is on the ‘Understanding the combined effects of chloride and carbonation on reinforcement corrosion in low-carbon concretes’. He is supervised by Professor Leon Black (Professor of Infrastructure Materials at University of Leeds), and co-supervised by Dr Frederick O. Pessu (Mechanical engineering Lecturer at University of Leeds). Utibe has worked in various industries including oil and gas, construction, and materials testing laboratories in Nigeria. He has previously studied Construction Management (MSc) at University of Salford, and Petroleum Engineering at American University of Nigeria (BSc). His current research centres on study of the corrosion monitoring and the combined action of carbonation and chloride ingress on durability of concrete under realistic service conditions. 

Title: Using Reactivity tests to predict performance and screen resources for calcined mixed mineral UK clays

Abstract: Calcined mixed mineral UK clays, due to their abundance and diverse mineral composition, hold promise for various industrial applications. This study investigates the effectiveness of three key tests,R3 bound water test, lime reactivity test, and activity index test, in predicting clay performance. The R3 bound water test assesses water retention, crucial for workability and plasticity, impacting processing and final product quality. The lime reactivity test measures clay's reaction rate with lime, vital for cement production and soil stabilization, crucial for high-quality cement and infrastructure projects. The activity index test examines pozzolanic activity, enhancing concrete performance. Correlating these tests with mineralogical, particle size, and chemical properties enables identifying clays suitable for specific applications. This informed approach aids in resource selection, process optimization, and performance enhancement in the concrete industry.

Speaker 2: Dr Jon Woolfrey (STORM Lab, IRASS, School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds)

Bio: Jon obtained his bachelor's degree in Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering in 2015, and Ph.D in 2020 from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Australia. From 2021 to 2023 he worked as a Postdoc with the Humanoid Sensing & Perception (HSP) group at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT). He is currently a Research Fellow working on the Terabotics project as part of the STORM Lab under Dr. Pietro Valdastri. Jon's interests are in control, optimisation, and classical mechanics. He also likes books, cats, and coffee.

Title: Robotics & Beyond : A Brief History of my Experiences

Abstract: In this talk I will give a brief history of my work & studies that has led me to the University of Leeds, as well as some reflection on my experiences. When I first left high school, I quit University after 6 months. Not knowing what to do, I did an apprenticeship as a mechanic in a factory which sparked my interest in robotics. Despite not having a prior penchant for mathematics, I showed a strong aptitude for engineering and went all the way to completing a PhD. I worked extensively in industry whilst studying and gained some important skills and insights that have greatly complemented my academic career. I've been fortunate to work on underwater, industrial, humanoid, and now surgical robots.

Speaker 3: Professor Pietro Valdastri (Full Professor and Chair in Robotics and Autonomous Systems at the University of Leeds, Director of Robotics at Leeds, University of Leeds)

Bio: He directs the Science and Technologies Of Robotics in Medicine (STORM) Lab, focusing on intelligent robots to fight cancer, the Institute of Robotics, Autonomous System and Sensing (IRASS), and the Robotics at Leeds network. He received his Laurea degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Pisa in 2001 and his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in 2006. After the PhD. In 2011, Prof Valdastri moved to Vanderbilt University as an Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering until 2016, when he relocated to Leeds. He has published more than 150 peer reviewed journal papers in the field of medical robotics and has been principal investigator on grants in excess of $24M supported by NSF, NIH, ERC, EU-H2020, Cancer Research UK, The Royal Society, EPSRC, Innovate UK and industry, including the NSF CAREER Award with the proposal “Lifesaving Capsule Robots” in 2015, the ERC Consolidator Grant Award with the proposal “NoLiMiTs – Novel Lifesaving Magnetic Tentacles” in 2019, and the KUKA Innovation Award for his robotic colonoscopy platform in 2019. Prof. Valdastri is a Royal Society Wolfson Research Fellow, a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Editor for Medical and Rehabilitation Robotics of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, and a member of the steering committee of the International Society for Medical Innovation and Technology (iSMIT). 

Title: Magnetic Surgical Robots: A “Fantastic Voyage” deep inside the human body

Abstract: Magnetic fields offer the possibility of manipulating objects from a distance and are ideal for medical applications, as they penetrate human tissue without inflicting any harm on the patient. Magnetic fields can be harnessed to actuate surgical robots, enhancing the capabilities of surgeons in reaching deep into the human anatomy through complex winding pathways, thus providing minimally invasive access to organs that are out of reach with current technologies. In this talk, we will explore various robotic architectures based on magnetic control, specifically designed for lifesaving clinical applications. These architectures include a magnetic flexible endoscope for painless colonoscopy, soft magnetic tentacles personalized for reaching peripheral areas of the lung and navigating the pancreatic duct, and magnetic “fusilli” robots designed for collaborative bimanual tasks in a confined workspace. We will also discuss enabling technologies, intelligent control, potential levels of computer assistance, the path to first-in-human trials, and highlight the future challenges associated with this ongoing Fantastic Voyage.