Mannu Lambrichts
Researcher, DIY Enthousiast, Drone Pilot
Resume
Welcome to my resume page! Here, you'll find a detailed overview of my professional journey, from my educational background and research initiatives to my hands-on projects in electronics prototyping and digital fabrication. Each experience highlights my commitment to innovation, creativity, and technical challenges. I invite you to explore my qualifications and see how my skills can contribute to future projects. Feel free to reach out if you'd like to connect!
Publications
I have contributed to several publications in the field of electronics prototyping and digital fabrication. These works explore innovative approaches to enhance the usability and accessibility of electronic systems, focusing on bridging the gap between user expectations and technical capabilities.
LogicGlue - Hardware-Independent Embedded Programming Through Platform-Independent Drivers
Mannu Lambrichts, Raf Ramakers, Steve HodgesLogicGlue is a platform-independent driver system that decouples application logic from hardware specifics, enabling embedded programs to run across different microcontrollers without modification. It preserves native component features and protocols, simplifying prototyping while maintaining flexibility in hardware choice.
CircuitGlue - A Software Configurable Converter for Interconnecting Multiple Heterogeneous Electronic Components
Mannu Lambrichts, Raf Ramakers, Steve Hodges, James Devine, Lorraine Underwood, Joe FinneyCircuitGlue is an electronic prototyping board that facilitates the connection of various off-the-shelf electronic components and modules. The board's input header is software-configurable, allowing modules to be instantly compatible regardless of differences in voltage levels, interface types, communication protocols, and pinouts.
Beyond Prototyping Boards - Future Paradigms for Electronics Toolkits
Andrea Bianchi, Steve Hodges, David Cuartielles, Hyunjoo Oh, Mannu Lambrichts, Anne RoudautElectronics prototyping platforms, exemplified by the likes of Arduino, have democratized the creation of interactive prototypes, making it accessible to a wide range of creators, including those without an engineering background. Such platforms have had a profound impact on the HCI community. This workshop seeks to explore the future trajectories of electronics toolkits, moving beyond the well-established microcontroller-based paradigms.
Toolkit Classification - A Survey and Taxonomy of Electronics Toolkits for Interactive and Ubiquitous Device Prototyping
Mannu Lambrichts, Raf Ramakers, Steve Hodges, Sven Coppers, James DevineThis paper presents a comprehensive analysis and survey of 56 electronics toolkits used for interactive and ubiquitous device prototyping. We introduced 13 unique objective characteristics and the concept of holistic characteristics, and aim to provide a user-centric perspective on evaluating toolkits. An online survey questioned user preferences and prototyping techniques and identified gaps in existing toolkits, highlighting opportunities for future research.
SoftMod - A Soft Modular Plug-and-Play Kit for Prototyping Electronic Systems
Mannu Lambrichts, Jose Maria Tijerina, Raf RamakersSoftMod is an electronic toolkit that combines the flexibility of crafting with the ease of use of toolkits. SoftMod consists of an ecosystem of soft and flexible modules that magnetically snap together. Behavior is either specified by the position of modules, or user programmable through software.
FlexPCB - DIY Fabrication of High Performance Multi-Layered Flexible PCBs
Mannu Lambrichts, Jose Maria Tijerina, Tom De Weyer, Raf RamakersThis paper introduces a novel DIY workflow for creating highly flexible circuit boards with a laser cutter capable of handling high-frequency signals like I2C. This method involves stacking Kapton and copper tape layers and cutting them with a CO2 and fiber laser, respectively. The workflow also includes steps for using the laser cutter to cure soldering paste and solder components, enhancing the functionality of the fabricated PCBs.
Research Experience
My research experience spans various projects, focusing on electronics prototyping, digital fabrication, and physical computing. I have developed innovative tools and frameworks to enhance the usability and accessibility of electronic systems for diverse users, from hobbyists to professional engineers.
Senior Research Associate, Lancaster University, United Kingdom
In my current role, I explore new directions in physical computing, using platforms like the BBC micro:bit and Jacdac as examples. My work focuses on developing and evaluating tools, workflows, and integration patterns that support both accessible entry points and more advanced use cases for experienced developers.
Researcher, Hasselt University, Belgium
In this role, I contributed to a research project exploring skill transfer by designing and implementing the hardware for a custom sensor system. Additionally, in a separate project, I led the workpackage responsible for building tools for creating and maintaining templates for digital work instructions. These templates were designed to be adaptable to variations such as operator skill levels and product configurations.
PhD Student, Hasselt University, Belgium
In my PhD, I developed a comprehensive framework to bridge the gap between creators' expectations and the capabilities of electronics prototyping tools. I analyzed various tools' technical specifications, design philosophies, and practical applications. I also conducted an online survey to gather insights from diverse users, from hobbyists to professional engineers. Continuing with these insights, I created tailored, integrated hardware-software solutions that streamline and enhance the prototyping workflow, making it more accessible and efficient for users across various backgrounds.
Research Assistant, Hasselt University, Belgium (summer job)
I created software for a research project aimed at integrating electronics into thermoformed plastic plates. The software's role was to identify the best placement for these electronics to ensure their accurate positioning after thermoforming. The method involved marking a calibration plate with colored reference markers, which was subsequently scanned to produce a 3D point cloud following thermoforming. My software utilized linear interpolation to generate a transformation matrix, which was essential for precisely positioning the electronics on the final product.
Teaching Experience
I have been actively involved in teaching various courses, focusing on electronics prototyping, software development, and interactive systems. My role includes mentoring students, giving lectures, and guiding practical sessions to enhance their understanding of complex concepts.
Hasselt University, Belgium
- Bachelor and Master Thesis Mentoring
- Computational Fabrication (4196/4719)
- Tools and Technologies for Interactive Systems Development (2184)
- Engineering Interactive Software (4715)
- Project Software Development and Professional Skills (2252)
- Interdisciplinary Project (3804)
Education
I hold a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Hasselt University, Belgium, where my research focused on enhancing the usability of electronics prototyping tools. My academic journey also includes a Master's and Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, where I developed a strong foundation in software development and interactive systems.
Ph.D. in Computer Science, Hasselt University, Belgium
Democratizing Prototyping of Interactive Devices - A Unified Plug-and-Play Platform for Interconnecting and Driving Heterogeneous Electronic Components ( Thesis PDF )
Supervisor: Prof. dr. Raf Ramakers - Co-supervisors: Prof. dr. Kris Luyten, Prof. dr. Steve HodgesThis dissertation investigates electronic prototyping workflows, identifying key challenges and proposing solutions to enhance usability. Through a comprehensive literature review and user study, it introduces a framework for evaluating prototyping platforms, focusing on user experience rather than solely technical features. The findings led to the development of CircuitGlue and LogicGlue. CircuitGlue simplifies hardware assembly, while LogicGlue facilitates software integration by enabling cross-platform driver functionality. Building on these, the ongoing UniGlue project combines their strengths to deliver a plug-and-play system for off-the-shelf components, featuring an extension shield with embedded memory for automatic configuration of software, hardware, and voltage settings.
Master in Computer Science, Hasselt University, Belgium
SoftMod - A Soft Modular Plug-and-Play Kit for Prototyping Electronic Systems ( Thesis PDF )
Supervisor: Prof. dr. Raf RamakersThis thesis introduces SoftMod, a soft and modular electronic kit for non-engineers. Unlike other kits, SoftMod adjusts its behavior based on assembly shape and includes modules for sensing, output, and more. Connected by stretchable cables, it enables the creation of diverse structures, from wearables to interactive textiles. SoftMod was also presented as a paper at TEI 2020. In addition, I introduced a novel DIY method for creating flexible PCBs, which is published as a Work-in-Progress at TEI 2020.
Bachelor in Computer Science, Hasselt University, Belgium
Tars - A Robot-Like Monitoring System for Medical Parameters ( Thesis PDF - Poster PDF )
Supervisor: Prof. dr. Kris LuytenPatients with heart problems have to adopt a healty lifestyle and monitor their vital medical parameters frequently. While regular visits to revalidation centers are one way to track these, there's an increasing interest in home monitoring. This thesis explores a home-based solution for monitoring vital medical parameters using a smartphone app paired with an external robot. The system motivates patients through a virtual pet game, providing clear feedback on health progress.
Latin - Science, Voorzienigheid Diest, Belgium
Summer Jobs
In addition to my academic and research experience, I have held various summer jobs that have provided me with practical skills in web design, logistics, and project management. These roles have enhanced my ability to work in diverse environments and manage multiple tasks effectively.
Front- and Backend Webdesign, Houttechniek VanHam
I developed both the front- and back-end of a website that showcases a portfolio of projects. The back-end features a custom application that allows for the dynamic management of projects within multiple levels of categories.
Logistics, HydroScan
I was responsible for restructuring and optimizing the storage system for measurement equipment.
Logistics, Carrefour
I was responsible for stocking and organizing shelves, verifying incoming deliveries, and preparing outgoing containers.