continued
While the Center will begin as a virtual think-tank that brings
diverse expertise together, Sitti hopes to one day create a shared physical space which can be used for collaborative bio-robotics research and development.
INTRODUCING A LANDMARK TEXTBOOK Sitti is also helping to establish Carnegie Mellon’s global robotics leadership by co-authoring the world’s first text- book focusing specifically on nanorobotics technologies. Titled Atomic Force Microscopy Based Nanorobotics: Modelling, Simulation, Setup Building and Experiments, this book will be used by engineering students around the world.
The new book brings together a range of expertise in
this area, and was co-authored by Sitti’s former doctoral student Cagdas Onal (Ph.D. 2009); Stéphane Régnier, a Professor of Systems Intelligence and Robotics at the University Pierre and Marie Curie who visited MechE in 2010; and Hui Xie, a former Research Associate working with Régnier. “Atomic force microscopes have been used to perform
nanorobotics manipulations for years, but there has never been a single, authoritative textbook that collected all the insights gained in nanoscale dynamics, systems, and con- trols,” says Sitti. “Our goal in publishing this book was to reflect the state-of-the-art progress that has been made in an organized, structured, and detailed manner. We hope it will become an invaluable resource for nanorobotics students and researchers in every corner of the globe.”
BRINGING HIS INNOVATIONS TO MARKET Sitti has also been actively working to bring some of his most groundbreaking biologically inspired technologies to an international marketplace through his start-up company, nanoGriptech LLC, which he founded in 2009. At a new 2300-square-foot facility in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neigh- borhood, Sitti and his fellow researchers are working diligently to create commercial and military applica- tions for his adhesives inspired by the sticky feet of geckos.
Nadine Aubry joins Metin Sitti at an October reception at nanoGriptech.
4 CARNEGIE MECH
Sitti is leveraging a range of funding to adapt his tech- nologies for practical applications—including two Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants from the U.S. Army and two SBIR awards from the National Science Foundation. This support will be used to create scale-up micro/nano-manufacturing methods for commercializing gecko-inspired adhesives for defense, sports, packaging, space, home development, and other applications. Two grants from the Pennsylvania Nanomaterials
Commercialization Center are helping Sitti’s company commercialize his adhesives for use as closures on athletic clothing, as well as gripping surfaces on gloves used by football receivers, golfers, hockey goal- ies, and other athletes. This project is being undertaken in collaboration with Bayer and Under Armour. “At nanoGriptech LLC, we are currently focused on adapting our technologies for large-scale, high-volume, low-cost micro/nano-manufacturing,” says Sitti. “By introducing our revolutionary adhesives to a broad inter- national marketplace, I believe we can create a breadth of consumer benefits and significantly improve some existing products.”
AN INSPIRATION TO MANY According to MechE Department Head Nadine Aubry, Sitti’s energetic and diverse work in robotics is exciting and inspiring to his many colleagues and students. In addition to his research activities at his Nano-Robotics Laboratory in MechE, Sitti also teaches popular courses in the Depart- ment, including “Micro/Nano-Robotics,” an interdisciplin- ary course that focuses on the design, physics, analysis, manufacturing, and control of state-of-the-art micro/nano- robotic systems.
“I was delighted to attend the opening reception for
Metin’s new nanoGriptech facility in October, along with faculty, students, and staff members from across the University,” says Aubry. “It has been rewarding to watch Metin’s many successes since joining MechE, and every- one applauds his most recent accomplishments.” “Metin is an excellent ambassador for our Department, and has helped create positive global recognition for both MechE and Carnegie Mellon University,” adds Aubry. “I think the only question with regard to Metin is...what will he accomplish next? It will be thrilling to see how he continues to advance the fast-growing field of bio-robotics.”•
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