About Us

Our research originates from the core theme of exploiting the vast potential of stimuli-responsive (or smart) materials, in particular piezoelectrics and shape memory alloys, in applications from instrumentation to structures. In particular, we are interested in the intelligent design of robotic and mechatronic systems through the understanding of responsive materials, the development of dynamic models, the discovery of new fabrication techniques, and the use of advanced control.

PSE 425 Photo

Responsive materials (or smart materials) are materials that can change their properties based on an external stimulus or input. For instance, piezoelectric materials are responsive materials that expand or contract due to the application of an electrical stimulus. Piezoelectric materials also exhibit the opposite effect, when pressure is applied to the material it will generate an electrical signal. Hence, piezoelectric materials can be used in both actuation and sensing applications. On the other hand for example are shape memory alloys, which are materials that exhibit the shape memory effect. This refers to the ability of the material to remember a specific shape. After it is deformed, the application of heat will cause the material to respond and return to its initial shape.

Our main research area lies in the use of smart materials to create robotic and mechatronics systems. Very broadly, we are interested in: smart materials and structures; compliant mechanisms; finite element analysis; parallel robotics; responsive material models; applications of control theory; piezoelectric actuators; shape memory alloys; and bioinspired robotics.

The Responsive Materials & Robotics Laboratory (RMR LAB) was started in 2019 and is currently based in the Petrie Science and Engineering Building Room 425 for test and verification (and limited fabrication) while Room 027 - the fabrication lab - is currently being renovated. Our current facilities include a CO2 laser, 3D printers, fume hood, furnaces, press, microscopes, high voltage and current power supplies, high-speed camera, load cells, linear motion stages, laser displacement sensor, and a dedicated real-time computer with data acquisition system.

PSE 027 Photo
People
Photo of Ryan Orszulik

Prof. Ryan Orszulik

Dr. Ryan Orszulik joined York University as an Assistant Professor in Engineering Design in 2019 and founded the Responsive Materials & Robotics Lab. After receiving his Ph.D., he was an Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellow in the Institute of Mechanics at the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg. Following that he was an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow in the Harvard Microrobotics Lab in the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University.

Photo of Arvin Tangestanian

Arvin Tangestanian

Arvin is currently an M.Sc. student at York University with a B.Eng. in Space Engineering. Arvin is researching shape memory alloys as artificial muscles for biomimetic soft robotics.

Photo of Ariel Tabak

Ariel Tabak

Ariel graduated from York University with a B.Eng in Space Engineering, and is currently working on his M.Sc. His thesis is on 3D printed mesoscale robots using flexible materials, powered by piezoelectric bimorphs for high-speed motion.

Photo of Rafael Toledo

Rafael Toledo

Rafael is an M.Sc. student who graduated from the Presbyterian Mackenzie University, Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2017 in Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in Mechatronics. He spent a one-year period studying at the University of Nevada, Reno in 2014. His current work is on a finite element implementation of thermopiezoelectricity considering the pyroelectric and electrocaloric effects to study the shift in the resonant frequency of piezoelectric actuators.

Photo of Morgan O'Dea

Morgan O'Dea

Morgan is an M.Sc. student who graduated from York with a B.Eng. in Space Engineering in 2022. .

Photo of Margarita Khramova

Margarita Khramova

Rita graduated from York University with a B.Eng in Space Engineering in 2022. Rita is currently working on the development of a motor driven by piezoelectric unimorphs.

Prospective Students

One to two well qualified M.Sc. or Ph.D. students are typically admitted per year. In general, international applicants are only admitted for Ph.D. studies.
Contact to discuss possible opportunities.

Normally one to two undergraduate RAY (Research-at-York) positions are available per year to students from ESSE, MECH, and EECS.
Contact to discuss possible opportunities.

Responsive Materials & Robotics Laboratory