The PARSES logo, which is an 8-bit stylized letter p in red on a black background

The Programmable and Reconfigurable Soft Engineered Systems (PARSES) lab is a multi-disciplinary group at Northeastern University in the departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering (College of Engineering) and Physical Therapy, Movement, and Rehabilitation Sciences (PTMRS, Bouvé College of Health Sciences).

We work on challenges related to the design and engineering of soft actuators, wearable devices, and soft robotics, with focuses on:
  • Applications of wearable robots to healthcare and physical rehabilitation, particularly to conditions related to edema
  • Design of novel morphology, soft material mechanical sensors with the ability to tailor or select a particular deformation
  • Scalable fabrication approaches for multifunctional and active materials
  • Design of origami-inspired, self-sensing soft actuators
A photo of two hands holding a piece of cloth so that it curls on itself
Photos of three origami designs with different fold angles