Mannu Lambrichts

dblp:257/8018 · DBLP profile ↗
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6ranked-venue papers
3as first author
4since 2021 · last 2026
0000-0002-8733-4585ORCID · verified

Domains — the database's venue-derived domains; a paper can count in several

Human-computer interaction and ubiquitous computing · 5 · 3 first-author · 3 since 2021Graphics, computer vision, multimedia, augmented reality and games · 1 · 1 since 2021
YearPublicationVenuePosition
2026 Unit-Less Measurements with StoryStick++: Rethinking Measurement as Interactive Processes
abstract
Dimensional measurement remains one of the most error-prone activities in making, engineering, and construction, despite the technical precision of modern instruments. Errors frequently arise not from the tools themselves, but from usability challenges: correct alignment of tools, interpreting numeric values, and transferring measurements across media. We introduce StoryStick++, a novel measurement system that rethinks measurement as an interactive, unit-less process. Inspired by story sticks, century-old craft tools using align-and-mark workflows, StoryStick++ replaces numerical readouts with direct spatial interactions. The device enables users to measure, mark, and transfer dimensions without converting to numerical values or standard units. Our system integrates a smartphone-based clip-on with embedded sensing and a series of attachments to support a wide variety of measurement tasks for measuring and marking basic and complex geometries with step-by-step guidance. Together, these contributions offer a new paradigm for measurement; one that emphasizes usability over abstraction and numeric precision.
Stig Konings, Maties Claesen, Danny Leen, Mannu Lambrichts, Xander Vaes, Raf Ramakers
CHI4
2026 MakeDevice: Easing the path from hardware prototyping toolkits to manufacturable devices
abstract
As hardware prototyping toolkits and accessible programming environments become more widespread, it is easier than ever to build functional prototypes of interactive devices. Yet moving beyond a prototype towards manufacturable devices still presents significant challenges. This evolution often requires specialised knowledge in circuit design, firmware development, and hardware testing, which can discourage less experienced creators. We present MakeDevice, a browser-based tool that helps users navigate this transition by leveraging the intuitive micro:bit, Jacdac and MakeCode ecosystem coupled with a process we call device flattening. Modular micro:bit-plus-Jacdac hardware assemblies are progressively transformed, or flattened, into increasingly-integrated custom printed circuit board (PCB) designs. We demonstrate MakeDevice through two examples. MakeDevice lowers barriers to the creation and deployment of new tangible, embedded and embodied devices by providing an alternative to the traditional PCB design process.
Kobi Hartley, Aron Eggens, Steve Hodges 0001, Andrew Scott 0001, Joe Finney, Charly Olivier, Mannu Lambrichts, Lorraine Underwood, Jan Hollinshead
TEI8
2025 LogicGlue: Hardware-Independent Embedded Programming Through Platform-Independent Drivers
abstract
The growing capabilities of microcontrollers, sensors, and actuators, coupled with decreasing costs, have led to a proliferation of embedded interactive systems. Prototyping such electronic systems has become democratized across a broad audience, including students, hobbyists, professional engineers, and programmers. Central to this evolution is the ease of software development, and in particular, the availability of low-level drivers and programming libraries which have significantly lowered the barriers to programming these systems. However, this ecosystem often presents challenges due to the tight coupling between programming libraries, drivers, and the underlying sensors and actuators. This frequently leads to compatibility issues. This paper introduces LogicGlue, which addresses these challenges by providing a platform-independent driver specification format. LogicGlue driver specifications allow hardware-independent application logic to be written, facilitating the process of interchanging components with minimal-to-no code adjustments. Unlike existing solutions, LogicGlue supports efficient interfacing via native communication protocols. This approach not only simplifies electronics prototyping but also ensures compatibility between various types of electronic components from different vendors. By reducing the complexity of hardware integration, LogicGlue enables a more seamless exploration of novel interactive behaviours and interfaces, forming a new tool for engineering interactive computing systems.
Mannu Lambrichts, Raf Ramakers, Steve Hodges 0001
Proc. ACM Hum. Comput. Interact.1
2024 SOLDAR: Supporting Low-Volume PCB Prototyping Using Collaborative Robots and Augmented Reality
abstract
Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are fundamental to modern electronics and are present in almost every electronic device. However, despite their ubiquity, current PCB assembly methods can be time-consuming and lack flexibility for one-off designs. This poster investigates how low-volume PCB prototyping can be enhanced by integrating collaborative robots (cobots) and Augmented Reality (AR). Specifically, we introduce SOLDAR, a system that facilitates the soldering of electronic through-hole components on PCBs. By using a cobot for optimal PCB positioning and AR glasses for step-by-step guidance, SOLDAR aims to streamline the assembly process. The expected outcomes are increased efficiency, reduced assembly time, and greater flexibility for low-volume PCB prototyping designs. To validate these hypotheses, user experiments are necessary.
Xander Vaes, Dries Cardinaels, Mannu Lambrichts, Raf Ramakers
VRST3
2020 SoftMod: A Soft Modular Plug-and-Play Kit for Prototyping Electronic Systems
abstract
We present SoftMod, a novel modular electronics kit consisting of soft and flexible modules that snap together. Unlike existing modular kits, SoftMod tracks the topology of interconnected modules and supports basic plug-and-play behavior as well as advanced user-specified behavior. As such, the shape of a SoftMod assembly does not depend on the desired behavior and various 2D and 3D electronic systems can be realized. While the plug-and-play nature of our modules stimulates play, the advanced features for specifying behavior and for making a variety of soft and flexible shapes, offer a high-ceiling when experimenting with novel types of interfaces, such as wearables, and interactive skin and textiles.
Mannu Lambrichts, Jose Maria Tijerina, Raf Ramakers
TEI1
2020 DIY Fabrication of High Performance Multi-Layered Flexible PCBs
abstract
We present a novel DIY fabrication workflow for prototyping highly flexible circuit boards using a laser cutter. As our circuits consist of Kapton and copper, they are highly conductive and thus support high-frequency signals, such as I2C. Key to our approach is a laser machine that supports both a CO2 laser as well as a fiber laser to precisely process respectively Kapton and copper. We also show how the laser cutter can cure soldering paste to realize VIAs (Vertical Interconnect Access) and solder components. In contrast, previous approaches for prototyping flexible PCBs through laser cutting only considered CO2 lasers which can not process metals. Therefore these approaches mainly used ink-based conductors that have a significantly higher electrical resistance than copper.
Mannu Lambrichts, Jose Maria Tijerina, Tom De Weyer, Raf Ramakers
TEI1