Computational Robot Design: Morphological Intelligence and Simulation

This lecture by the instructor covers the fundamentals of computational robot design, exploring the concept of morphological intelligence defined by form and material. It delves into rigid and soft robots, types of robots, and the importance of computational design for faster workflows and better performance. The lecture also discusses the manual process of robot design, the inspiration drawn from nature, and the need for algorithmic exploration. Furthermore, it addresses the modeling and simulation of robots, including rigid and deformable simulation, inverse kinematics, and closed-loop control. The presentation concludes with a look at hybrid modeling and innovative solutions for contact dynamics.