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This year’s PMB (New Student Admission) event was divided into two sessions: morning and afternoon. The afternoon session welcomed new students from the Faculty of Art and Design (FSRD), Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (FTMD), Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering (FTSL), School of Architecture, Planning and Policy Development (SAPPK), School of Life Sciences and Technology (SITH), School of Electrical Engineering and Informatics (STEI), and the Graduate School of Multidisciplinary Science and Technology (SPITM).

During the afternoon session, Ir. Vani Virdyawan, S.T., M.T., Ph.D., a lecturer from the Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (FTMD) at ITB, delivered a scientific oration titled “The Science That Breathes Life: The Role of Soft Robotics in Healthcare Services for Humanity.”

In his oration, he introduced soft robotics, an innovative branch of robotics that utilizes flexible materials, making it safe to operate in unstructured environments—including within the human body.  “The main advantage of soft robots lies in their ability to adapt to the shape and texture of their surroundings, significantly reducing the risk of tissue damage or injury to patients,” he explained.

This technology does not require complex manufacturing facilities, opening up vast opportunities for local innovation and technological independence in Indonesia. Various applications of soft robotics have been developed, ranging from diagnostic tools and minimally invasive surgical devices to rehabilitation aids and prosthetics.

He emphasized that soft robotics holds strategic potential to address national healthcare challenges, such as limited access to advanced technology, reliance on imported equipment, and the uneven distribution of medical devices across the archipelago.

As a researcher active on the international stage, Dr. Vani has led numerous cutting-edge research projects in soft robotics, including the development of variable-stiffness actuators for surgical tools and affordable haptic simulators for orthopedic surgical training. With academic experience at Imperial College London and a strong track record of publications in reputable journals, he hopes his work can lay the foundation for advancing Indonesia’s health technology through homegrown innovation.

“It is my hope that soft robotics will not only remain a subject of academic research in laboratories, but also become a tangible presence in hospitals and healthcare centers throughout Indonesia,” he concluded.