Metin Sitti
Encyclopedia
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
in Department of Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
and Robotics Institute
Robotics Institute
The Robotics Institute is a division of the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It is considered to be one of the leading centers of robotics research in the world....
in Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
. He obtained his PhD in Tokyo University. He is interested in micro
Microbotics
Microbotics is the field of miniature robotics, in particular mobile robots with characteristic dimensions less than 1 mm...
/nanorobotics, nanomanufacturing, MEMS
Microelectromechanical systems
Microelectromechanical systems is the technology of very small mechanical devices driven by electricity; it merges at the nano-scale into nanoelectromechanical systems and nanotechnology...
/NEMS
NEMS
NEMS may refer to;* Nanoelectromechanical systems* National Energy Modeling System* Nems * NEMS Enterprises , based in Argentina...
, biomimetic micro/nanosystems, directed self-assembly, bionanotechnology , haptic interfaces, and tele-robotics. He conducted the Micromechanical Flying Insect
Micromechanical Flying Insect
The Micromechanical Flying Insect project is research effort to develop a flying robot based on living insects flight techniques, i.e. an ornithopter. The flying robot will be capable of sustained autonomous flight. The design of artificial fly is based on bionics principles and relies on...
Project.
Sitti is currently working on the development of robots using a "sticky" elastic polymer capable of adhering to a variety of surfaces, inspired by the "hairs" which allow gecko
Gecko
Geckos are lizards belonging to the infraorder Gekkota, found in warm climates throughout the world. They range from 1.6 cm to 60 cm....
s to stick to walls. According to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review: "Sitti's most recent innovation is to use the gecko-inspired technology to print electronics on sticky surfaces. This way, circuit transistors can be woven into fabric and clothing."
New Scientist reported in an interview with Sitti that sticky robots using the gecko-hair technology could "tackle many jobs in the home including painting ceilings and clearing cobwebs. They could also play a part in exploration, inspection, repair and even search and rescue."
Working with graduate student Yun Seong Song, Sitti also designed a tiny robot that, mimicking a water strider
Water strider
Gerridae is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera, commonly known as water striders, water bugs, magic bugs, pond skaters, skaters, skimmers, water scooters, water skaters, water skeeters, water skimmers, water skippers, water spiders, or Jesus bugs...
insect, can walk on the surface tension of water.