Horst Complex

dr.ir. J.J. de Jong EngD (Jan)

Assistant Professor
ET-MS3-PE
Horst Complex T601
j.j.dejong@utwente.nl
+31534892567
Business card

Interests
I am fascinated by moving mechanisms. In my current role as assistant professor, I try to translate design principles from the precision engineering field to other domains, such as medical devices and agro-food robotics. I am currently involved in two research projects in design of flexure-based grippers. Previously, I worked on medical robots (Msc and EngD) and on dynamic balance. My interests include flexure-based mechanisms, static and dynamic balance, parallel robotics, kinematics, grippers and screw theory.

Research projects
FlexCRAFT - Within the FlexCRAFT program we aim to equip robot with flexure-based grippers that are able to handle delicate and deformable objects with varying shapes for the agro-food industry. Additive manufacturing of flexure-based grippers allow for seamless integration of functionalities such as underactuation, adjustable stiffness and joint locking without compromising the strict hygiene requirements. In this program I coordinate the project 'Gripping and manipulation'.

Synergia - Within this project we resesarch flexure-based robotic systems for weeding and harvesting in the open field maintenance operations in greenhouses.

Previous projects
IN-BALANCE - Cycle time reduction of commercial robots require faster robots without compromising the accuracy. Higher velocities and acceleration also increases the reaction force and moments at the base which in turn lead to undesired base vibrations. These vibrations reduce the accuracy of the end-effector and therefore require waiting times to let the vibrations dampen out. Dynamic balancing aims to distribute the mass of the mechanism such that these shaking forces and moments are eliminated. Considering dynamic balance at the beginning of the design process and the use of parallel mechanisms can reduce the complexity and added inertia of the balancing solution.

TMS Robot - A novel robot has been designed for the application of Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) during motion therapies such as treadmill walking. As the velocity of the head during treadmill walking exceeds the velocity safety limits of conventional TMS robots, a novel robot design is required that combines high velocity with intrinsic safety.

Side projects
- Plot2LaTeX Exports a figure as a pdf file in vector format for inclusion into LaTeX.

Expertise

  • Engineering

    • Flexure
    • Mechanisms
    • Support Stiffness

  • Earth and Planetary Sciences

    • Balance
    • Shaking

  • Computer Science

    • Dynamic Balance
    • Robot
    • Screw Theory

Organisations

Publications

2025

Design of a Novel Tomato Harvesting Gripper (2025)In European Robotics Forum 2024 (pp. 64-69) (Springer Proceedings in Advanced Robotics (SPAR); Vol. 32). Springer. Okken, B., Kaper, F., Muller, R. & de Jong, J.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76424-0_12

2024

Design of an Underactuated, Flexure-Based Gripper, Actuated Through a Push–Pull Flexure (2024)Journal of mechanisms and robotics, 17(6). Article 061009 (E-pub ahead of print/First online). Dwarshuis, K., de Jong, J. & Brouwer, D. M.https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4067265Dynamic Balancing a 1-DOF Positioning Stage to Maximize External Vibration Rejection (2024)[Contribution to conference › Paper] 39th ASPE Annual Meeting 2024. Kalas, V. J., Patti, F., Baade, R., Vogels, J. M. & de Jong, J.Mitigating friction induced limit cycles by an intermediate flexure stage (2024)In Proceedings of the 24th international conference of the european society for precision engineering and nanotechnology (pp. 445-448). de Jong, J., Fix, J. & Brouwer, D. M.Vision-based Force Estimation for Flexure-based Gripper (2024)In 43rd Benelux Meeting on Systems and Control, March 26 – 28, 2024 Blankenberge, Belgium: Book of Abstracts (pp. 119-119). Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. Jonker, L. M., Hakvoort, W. B. J., de Jong, J. J. & Roozing, W.https://beneluxmeeting.nl/2024/uploads/bmsc/boa2024.pdfFlexure hinge design and optimization for compact anthropomorphic grippers made via metal additive manufacturing (2024)Journal of mechanical design, 146(1). Article 015001. Tschiersky, M., de Jong, J. & Brouwer, D. M.https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4063362Mechanism balancing taxonomy (2024)Mechanism and machine theory, 191. Article 105518. Schneegans, H., de Jong, J., Cosandier, F. & Henein, S.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mechmachtheory.2023.105518

2023

Numerical Optimization of Underactuated Flexure-Based Grippers (2023)[Contribution to conference › Paper] ASME 2023 International Design Engineering Technical Conference and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference, IDETC/CIE 2023. Okken, B., Dekker, J. P., de Jong, J. & Brouwer, D. M.https://doi.org/10.1115/DETC2023-116752Approaching Linear Elastic Deformations of Flexible Bodies via Screw Theory (2023)In ECCOMAS Thematic Conference on Multibody Dynamics July 24 - 28, 2023, Lisbon, Portugal. Bongardt, B. & de Jong, J.Miniature flexure-based goniometer with minimized parasitic motion (2023)In Proceedings of the 23rd international conference of the european society for precision engineering and nanotechnology (pp. 245-248). Article P3.11. EUSPEN. Vree, E., Meyer, H.-M. & de Jong, J.

Research profiles

Address

University of Twente

Horst Complex (building no. 20), room T601
De Horst 2
7522 LW Enschede
Netherlands

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