From July 7th to 11th, 2025, three MAESTRI doctoral candidates—Troy Baker (Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna di Pisa), Gian Paolo Currà (Prensilia s.r.l.), and Danica Tan (Wegard GmbH)—met in Pontedera, Italy, for a week of collaborative research. The main objective of their meeting was to investigate the mechanical behavior of magnetoactive elastomers (MAEs) and exchange ideas on their applications in robotics. They tested material properties related to tensile and compressive strength, as well as friction mechanics when MAEs were exposed to magnetic fields. The collaboration proved fruitful, with experimental results highlighting differences between pure silicone and various types and concentrations of magnetic fillers. This joint effort helped the researchers advance their individual projects and align their approaches for future developments.
