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About

Amy Winters is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of soft robotics, materials science, and human-computer interaction (HCI), whose work explores how programmable materials can create expressive, shape-changing surfaces. Her research centers on developing novel actuators and fabrication methods for soft machines, with key contributions spanning bio-inspired color-changing systems, dynamic robotic fibers, and accessible prototyping techniques. Winters’ most cited work, “Colour gamuts in polychromatic dielectric elastomer artificial chromatophores” (2014, 6 citations), draws inspiration from cephalopod camouflage to create artificial color-changing cells, establishing a foundation for adaptive displays and soft robotics. She has significantly advanced the field of liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), as demonstrated in her 2022 papers on “Dynamic Robotic Fibers” and “Rapid Prototyping Dynamic Robotic Fibers” (3 citations each), where she introduced programmable, reversible shape-changing behaviors and a novel rapid-prototyping method that democratizes LCE fabrication beyond specialized labs. Her 2016 work “Building a Soft Machine” (5 citations) further explores expressive surfaces for tangible interaction. Most recently, her 2025 paper “Aqua-Morph” (1 citation) extends this vision to hydrogels, proposing a design method for fabricating shape-changing structures without technical barriers. With a growing citation record and a clear trajectory toward accessible, programmable soft robotics, Winters is shaping the future of interactive materials.