Researchers from the STORM Lab at the University of Leeds, in collaboration with the University of California San Diego, have been awarded the Best Paper Award at the IEEE International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft 2026). The awarded paper presents a pressure-free magnetic soft growing robot with integrated real-time shape control and sensing, designed for […]
Researchers from STORM Lab and collaborators have published a new paper in Communications Engineering, presenting a novel approach to robotic intervention using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for both actuation and real-time visualisation. The study introduces CoSMA (Co-axial Sleeve Magnetic Actuator), a system that combines magnetic actuation with concentric tube mechanics to enable the control of […]
Researchers from STORM Lab and collaborators have published a new review examining the challenges and opportunities in bringing soft continuum robotic systems from laboratory prototypes into real-world clinical use. The paper, “Enhancing the Functionality of Soft Continuum Robots for Minimally Invasive and Endoluminal Interventions: A Review,” provides a comprehensive overview of the technical, clinical, ergonomic, […]
Ever tried to get a robot to fully map an object that changes shape the second it touches it? 🤔 Autonomous exploration of unknown soft objects is notoriously difficult because they deform unpredictably, keeping much of their surface hidden or self-occluded. To crack this problem, our new paper in the The International Journal of Robotics […]
Andrea Yanez has published her latest research exploring advances in soft robotic navigation for minimally invasive procedures. The article presents the design of a magnetic tip mount for a 7 mm vine robot, enabling wireless magnetic steering while integrating a 1 mm camera with LED illumination, all while preserving tool passage through a 3 mm […]
We’re excited to share that StormLab UK has been featured on BBC’s children’s medical programme, Operation Ouch! The episode features our work while exploring how blood carries oxygen around the body. Dr Tosin sends Dr Xand and Dr Chris through giant blood vessel tunnels to discover how this vital process works, bringing healthcare science and […]
We’re delighted to announce that our latest research has been published in Science Advances. The paper, “Combining tethered and untethered magnetic robots via a magnetically triggerable latch for targeted payload delivery and retrieval,” presents a novel approach to drug delivery in hard-to-reach areas of the body. Key Innovation Our team has developed a magnetically triggerable […]
In this newly published journal article, we demonstrate shape control of a 50mm long by 1.8mm diameter magnetic catheter. The proposed modeling and control approach not only reduces contact with the environment during a procedure, but is also capable of adapting to different inserting positions and orientations, successfully clearing the duodenal papilla and successfully reaching […]
Researchers at the Science and Technologies Of Robotics in Medicine (STORM) Lab, based at the University of Leeds, have developed a small magnetic robot designed to perform non-invasive “virtual biopsies.” This technology has the potential to support earlier and more accurate detection of cancers in the gastrointestinal tract. The robot, detailed in a recent publication […]
In our new paper, we highlight the advantages of a hybrid robotic platform that combines tendon-driven actuation for precise positioning and motion compensation with magnetic catheter actuation, enabling damage-free cannulation of the pancreatic duct. Additionally, we present a comprehensive evaluation of different magnetic profiles for performing the same cannulation, introducing the potential to utilise either […]