Welcome to Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo

New research shows a smarter way to build artificial muscles for soft robots

A research group led by Chemical Engineering Professor Hamed Shahsavan has developed a method to reinforce smart, rubber-like materials—paving the way for their use as artificial muscles in robots, potentially replacing traditional rigid motors and pumps.

“Artificial muscles are essential for unlocking the true potential of soft robots. Unlike rigid components, they allow robots to move flexibly, safely, and with precision. This is especially important for applications like micromedical robots,” said Shahsavan.

The research group mixed liquid crystals (LCs) often used in displays for electronics and sensors into liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) which are promising building blocks for soft robots.

LCEs are rubbers that experience massive shape-change when heated, in a reversable but programmable manner. When a tiny amount of LCs were mixed with LCEs, they became much stiffer, up to nine times stronger than before.

The Department of Chemical Engineering is proud to announce that Professor Peter Angelo is the recipient of the Igor Ivkovic Teaching Excellence Award. The Waterloo Engineering Society, a student group, bestows the award to lecturers, professors, and lab instructors who advocate on behalf of students and go above and beyond in support of student success.

In just under two years at the University of Waterloo, Angelo has already made a lasting impression.

"It is very rewarding to be recognized by students," Angelo said. "They are the ones who interact with me the most and see my work directly. So, to know that it has not just been helpful to their academic success, but that I’ve been seen as approachable and engaging too — that really means a lot."

Bringing industry experience to teaching

Angelo’s teaching philosophy is rooted in relevance and practicality. He focuses on real-world applications when teaching foundational concepts in first and second year classes, to set the stage for advanced design courses in senior terms. In his teaching style, he connects theory to tangible examples knowing that students go on to professional practice, and will need to apply what they have learned in industry.

Chemical engineering alumni Jacqueline Hanton and Kayli Smith (both BASc ’20) founded a start-up called Friendlier in 2019. The company is dedicated to addressing Canada’s single-use plastic problem.

Hanton and Smith both did a study term in Sweden during their undergraduate degrees. This experience opened their eyes to the power of conscious consumerism and ignited a shared determination to preserve the planet and minimize the effects that humans are having on the environment—leading to the creation of Friendlier.

Since 2019, Hanton and Smith have raised a total of $10 million and prevented 3.7 million food and beverage containers from ending up in landfills. Friendlier has expanded its operations and now has 200 locations in Ontario, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and Quebec, quickly building a national presence.