The Department of Mechanical Engineering organized and hosted Türkiye’s local hub of the inaugural IEEE RAS Global Soft Robotics Day 2025 on December 5, under the leadership of Assoc. Prof. Onur Özcan and the Miniature Robotics Lab. As one of the many hybrid hubs participating in the 24-hour global celebration, the Bilkent event brought together researchers and students for a vibrant day of scientific exchange.
The program featured in-person talks, international livestreams, two poster sessions and a networking reception—all designed to broaden access to cutting-edge soft robotics research and foster collaboration within the community. Attendees experienced a rich blend of global and local perspectives as the event connected Türkiye to leading institutions across Asia, Europe and the Americas.
The Türkiye speaker session highlighted the nation’s growing contributions to the field of soft robotics. Onur Özcan (Bilkent University) presented recent advances in compliant mechanisms, miniature soft robots and embedded proprioceptive sensing; Gökhan Demirel (Gazi University) discussed functional soft materials and adaptive, bioinspired robotic platforms; Evren Samur (Boğaziçi University) explored innovations in magnetically actuated tiny robots with emerging applications in healthcare; and Çağatay Başdoğan (Koç University) showcased advances in haptics, tactile feedback systems and human-machine interface technologies that improve human–robot interaction.
Participants joined live sessions featuring internationally renowned researchers such as Dario Floreano, Mahmut Selman Sakar and Robert Katzschmann, whose talks offered insights into biohybrid systems, micro-robotics and autonomous soft systems. Through its strong engagement and interdisciplinary atmosphere, the Türkiye hub at Bilkent University played a crucial role in the success of the first Global Soft Robotics Day, further strengthening the university’s position as a leader in international soft robotics research.
