VUB leads European RESSORT project to advance soft robotics technology

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is leading RESSORT (Resilient Efficient Soft and Sustainable Optimized Robotics Technology), a new European research project funded by Horizon Europe. The initiative aims to transition soft robotics from laboratory settings to practical applications in healthcare, the food industry, and industrial inspections.

Unlike traditional rigid robots, soft robots are constructed from flexible materials that allow them to adapt to their surroundings and interact safely with humans and delicate objects. The project brings together 14 partners from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. Key research areas include the development of self-healing materials, structures capable of switching between soft and stiff states, affordable 3D tactile sensors, and advanced multi-material 3D printing.

The consortium is focusing on three primary applications: personalized soft exoskeletons for patient rehabilitation, robotic systems capable of handling fragile food items like fruit and bread without damage, and deformable drones designed to navigate narrow spaces for industrial or infrastructure inspections.