{"id":232895,"date":"2026-04-23T12:20:39","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T22:20:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=232895"},"modified":"2026-04-23T12:21:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T22:21:06","slug":"tiny-robots-big-impact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/23\/tiny-robots-big-impact\/","title":{"rendered":"Tiny robots, big impact: UH<\/abbr> lands nearly $1M<\/abbr> for new research"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Examples of millimeter- to centimeter-scale soft robots that have been recently developed by Wang\u2019s lab, Soft Robotics and Intelligent Machines Laboratory. These projects are led by graduate students Debasish Roy, Munir Zarea and Robert Wiemer, and several undergraduate students.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at Mānoa<\/span> has received nearly $1 million in new federal funding—including a National Science Foundation (NSF<\/abbr>) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER<\/abbr>) award—for research led by Assistant Professor Tianlu Wang to develop tiny, flexible robots designed to work in hard-to-reach environments, from coral reefs to the human body.<\/p>\n

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Tianlu Wang<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The funding includes a five-year, $659,613 CAREER<\/abbr> award and a two-year, $299,997 Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR<\/abbr>) Research Fellows grant, both from NSF<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

“By focusing on both performance and safety, we\u2019re working to make miniature robots practical for real-world use in places that are difficult to reach,” said Wang from UH<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/span>\u2019s Department of Mechanical Engineering<\/a>. “This research brings us closer to technologies that can better support healthcare and protect sensitive environments.”<\/p>\n

The CAREER<\/abbr> project focuses on improving how small “soft” robots move and function in fluids such as the ocean or inside the body. These robots, about the size of a few millimeters to centimeters, can adapt to their surroundings. However, they currently lack the speed, agility and manipulation capabilities as seen in small marine organisms. The research aims to change that by developing new ways for the robots to interact with fluids, helping them move faster, turn more easily and handle objects. Potential uses include exploring coral reefs and mangroves, monitoring aquaculture systems and reaching difficult areas of the body for medical diagnosis or treatment. The project also supports student learning through new courses, research opportunities and public outreach.<\/p>\n

The CAREER<\/abbr> program is the NSF<\/abbr>\u2019s flagship award for early-career faculty in the U.S., supporting those who show strong potential to lead in both research and education. CAREER<\/abbr> awardees are also eligible for nomination to the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers, a White House honor recognizing innovative research and leadership.<\/p>\n

Safety and environmentally friendly design<\/h2>\n

The EPSCoR<\/abbr> fellowship focuses on safety and environmentally friendly design. In collaboration with the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, the project will develop miniature soft robots made from materials that are safer for natural environments and medical use. It will also establish methods for designing and testing these robots to ensure they can operate effectively without causing harm. The work is expected to expand research opportunities at UH<\/abbr>, while training students in robotics, materials science and biomedical engineering.<\/p>\n

Wang also serves as an adjunct assistant professor at The Queen\u2019s Medical Center and a cooperating faculty in UH<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/span>\u2019s Department of Ocean and Resources Engineering<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Related UH<\/abbr> News<\/em> stories:<\/p>\n