AME - Tensegrity robotics

The Correll lab is interested in exploring new architectures for humanoid robots that involve cables and struts to create compliance structures, also known as "tensegrities". In this project, you will explore the design of a tensegrity actuator consisting of a wire and a spool, and quantify trade-offs among torque, displacement, and force-sensing capability, working with Prof. Correll and his team of graduate students and post-doc. 

In a next step, we will integrate this actuator into a humanoid arm or leg, which might be accomplished in one semester if two students are working together. 

Name of research group, project, or lab
Correll Lab in the Multi-disciplinary research building
Website
https://nd-pair.github.io/correll/
Why join this research group or lab?

The Correll lab has been recently moved from CU Boulder, spearheading the new Physical AI and Robotics (PAIR) initiative at the University of Notre Dame. We are looking forward to the creativity and energy you are bringing to our group and are looking forward to growing together. 

Funds are available for supporting publication cost/conference travel, should your goal be publication in a scientific venue. 

Representative publication
tensegrity.pdf
Logistics Information:
Project categories
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Student ranks applicable
Junior
Senior
Student qualifications

Mechatronic Design

Hours per week
3 credits / 12+ hours
Compensation
Research for Credit
Number of openings
2
Techniques learned

-Motor control
-Rapid prototyping
-Dynamics simulation (MuJoCo)
-Model predictive control 
 

Project start
Fall 2026
Contact Information:
Mentor
Nikolaus Correll
ncorrell@nd.edu
Principal Investigator
Name of project director or principal investigator
Nikolaus Correll
Email address of project director or principal investigator
ncorrell@nd.edu
2 sp. | 0 appl.
Hours per week
3 credits / 12+ hours
Project categories
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering