Ryan Bailis is a current junior at Bucknell University studying Computer Engineering and Management. He has been involved with the soft-robotics research lab since January 2019 where he has been studying the dynamic response of a Fiber Reinforced Elastomeric Enclosure (FREE). Through experimentation and mathematical modeling, his work has focused on altering material properties such as length, thickness, mass, and winding angle to characterize the dynamic properties of a FREE. As a result of his work, the natural frequency, log decrement, and damping ratio of a single FREE have been experimentally measured, allowing for the creation of a realistic model that explains the motion of a FREE as it moves about the workspace. These tests, performed in March and April 2019, have largely shown that a FREE can be modeled as spring-mass-damper system with rotational natural frequencies inversely related to mass moment of inertia.
Following his dynamic response research, Bailis has designed a custom two-camera imaging system that is able to perform a comprehensive mapping of the workspace. Using vision and pressure data, a control system that allows for real-time user control via intuitive input, tracking with reduced vibration, and adjustment for variances in the physical characteristics of FREEs has been developed. Future work will largely focus on improving this control system and developing new methods to measure the dynamic response of the FREE as the user interacts with the FREE module.
Outside of soft-robotics, Bailis is interested in musical performance having played the cello in numerous chamber groups and the Bucknell University Symphony. In addition, his interest in engineering and management has led him to study entrepreneurship, leadership, and business development. In the future, Ryan hopes to bridge his interests with music, entrepreneurship, and technology by venturing an innovative start-up company and working to develop his passion for interdisciplinary projects.