September 20, 2022 Submitted by The Hingham Public Library
Hingham resident and author Dr. Lenore Rasmussen will talk about her new book, "Smart Materials: Considerations on Earth and in Space," her exciting work with NASA in the field of smart materials, and her current work developing Tactile Fingertips™ for robots and Synthetic Muscle™ on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 7 p.m. in the Hingham Public Library’s Whiton Room.
A smart material is a substance that responds to a stimulus, such as electricity, light, pressure, moisture, magnetism, or temperature. The Tactile Fingertip™ is an extremely sensitive yet robust soft sensor that brings human-like tactile touch to robots. These developments are a potential asset to manned space travel through protective gear and human assist robots and for unmanned space exploration through deep space.
Rasmussen explains that in anticipation of deep space travel, new materials are being explored to assist and relieve humans in dangerous environments on Earth and in space, such as high radiation, extreme temperature, and extreme pressure and in environments with contagious agents that have no cure.
According to Rasmussen, smart material technology will allow humans -- on Earth and in space -- & "to boldly go where no one has gone before” in areas of research and development and aiding survival on Earth and in space and in ventures such as the ISS National Laboratory, the planned Moon base, the anticipated Mars settlements, and beyond.
Rasmussen will display a Tactile Fingertip™ and a protective cage that was used in the NASA-flown space experiment during this program.
Rasmussen, PhD, is the chief technology officer and founder of Ras Labs, Inc., which makes Tactile Fingertips™ and Synthetic Muscle™. She is also an adjunct professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
For further information about this event and other library activities for adults and children, visit http://www.hinghamlibrary.org/