Seeing my old grandparents struggle with daily chores like cleaning, cooking or even getting items lower to the ground made me realize that this was a problem not isolated to them but the whole world, with the elderly population nearing almost 750 million people, around 10 percent of the population, on further inspection the problem is not limited to the elderly but also to people with limited function due to injuries or deformities, in this staggering group of people few can get support in their daily lives, this is a problem which I aim to aid in finding a solution to.
during my undergraduate studies at COLLEGE, where I was exposed to a wide range of disciplines, from mechanical engineering to software and electronics. I eagerly explored elective courses, such as mechatronics, computer-aided design, and robotics, having done numerous projects related to them and also engaged in extracurricular activities, including my involvement in the university UAV club. Here, I played a pivotal role as the Composites and Structures lead, which helped me understand the importance and nuances of structural design and how it interacts with other systems of a complex product. My journey extended beyond the classroom through a series of enriching internships at prestigious manufacturing firms like COMPANY1 and COMPANY2, during which I gained invaluable insights into the operation and maintenance of automated machinery, manufacturing equipment both automated and traditional, I also got to see industrial robots in action and learn about management of assembly lines, planning for production and material management. My stint at RESEARCHLAB1 presented a unique opportunity, for me to help design an XXYY for vehicles, which helped me sharpen skills such as CAD, FEA, material selection, structural mechanics, FMEA etc. while also learning about sensors and control systems, both dependent and independent, used to operate the device.
A landmark moment in my academic journey was my decision to create a 3D printer from scratch, due to the lack of a cheap additive manufacturing solution for individual users, ultimately resulting in a 3D printer that rivalled similar commercial options at half the cost, with the added benefit of having self-replicable structural components. This endeavour introduced me to a plethora of elements, from sensors and actuators to power transmission, structures, and programming. Having also worked on making a customisable 3D printed arm-cast for wrist fractures, It also brought up the question 'can I use this to make upper-limb prosthetics cheaply?', pulling me further down the fascinating track of bionic prosthetics and robotics. In my exploration, I stumbled upon XXXX et al artificial muscle fibers as actuators for robotics. I believe this technology has the potential to mimic natural biological muscles, opening new avenues in prosthetics and bionic robotics demonstrated by the work done by YYYY. et al. The prospect of contributing to this field and reinforcing its progress fuels my desire to pursue a graduate degree in mechatronics.
Be it humanoid robotic assistants like the Tesla robot 'Optimus', or simple and inexpensive bionic prosthetics for people to regain lost function, I intend to delve into and learn the applications of mechatronics during my studies at ETH. Courses like AA, BB, CC, DD, EE etc. complimentary to the mandatory courses like FF would help me tremendously in getting closer to my goals and will lay a solid foundation for my future career.
At ETH, I aim to learn and explore more operational and technical skills, particularly in robotic systems. Distinguished professors in ETH's Mechatronics division, Department of Machine Design - Professor GGGG and Professor FFFF have already been influential to my learning. Their work on projects asuch as PROJECT1 and PROJECT2 have allowed me to introspect viable ways of building functional prosthetics taking inputs from stimuli provided by the body such as joint angles and junction force sensing, having AI analyse and optimise the desired motion, and also providing feedback using sensors built into the prosthetic using 4D printing methods as used by Professor FFFF. The KTH prototype center also provides me the opportunity to bring my designs to life and have the brightest minds help improve it. I believe that my current knowledge, skills and varied experiences put me in a favourable position, and I truly look forward to studying a ETH to further develop myself and meaningfully contribute towards the betterment of society.
