The project "TexSoRVA: Textile-Based Soft Robotics for Virtual Reality Applications" by one of our ERC principal investigators, Associate Professor Dr. Özgür ATALAY from İstanbul Technical University, has been awarded €150,000 under the ERC 2024 Proof of Concept (ERC-2024-PoC) call (second cut-off date).
As part of the project, Associate Professor Dr. Özgür ATALAY aims to develop an innovative technology called TexSoRVA, which seeks to make virtual reality (VR) experiences more realistic. TexSoRVA is designed as a wearable robotic glove that tracks the user's movements and provides haptic feedback, creating a more interactive experience in VR world. Additionally, TexSoRVA is planned to be used in various fields, including physical therapy and sports. The device aims to replace traditional bulky components with a sleek and flexible design while performing all necessary functions. The project aims to offer a deeper interaction with the virtual world through this technology.
The European Research Council (ERC) funds frontier research projects and the scientists conducting them solely based on the criterion of scientific excellence. It particularly supports projects that include multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, novel ideas, and unconventional innovative approaches. Projects under the Proof of Concept (PoC) calls are awarded to principal investigators previously funded by ERC to conduct additional studies that verify the commercial/socio-economic potential of their ideas and contribute to their commercialization.
Associate Professor Dr. Özgür ATALAY had previously secured €1.5 million in funding under the ERC-2021-StG call for his project titled "TEXWEAROTS: Textile-Based Wearable Soft Robotics with Integrated Sensing, Actuating and Self-Powering Properties". The TEXWEAROTS project, which is still ongoing at Istanbul Technical University, focuses on developing textile-based robotic structures that merge textile technology with robotics science, with the goal of using these structures in the treatment of individuals with muscle weakness.
The preparation phase of ATALAY's PoC project was supported by TÜBİTAK's ERC Principal Investigator Development Program (EBAG).
You can access the ERC’s related announcement here and announcement related to fist deadline can be accessed here. During the first cut-off date of the call, Dr. Levent BEKER from Koç University was also awarded funding.
We congratulate our researcher and their host institution and wish them continued success.