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About

Gareth Griffiths is a pioneering robotics researcher whose work bridges tactile sensing, medical physics, and extreme-environment robotics. His most influential contribution is the **TACTIP tactile fingertip device**, a biomimetic sensor designed to replicate the size and sensitivity of a human fingertip. Unlike conventional MEMS sensors, TACTIP is suited for dexterous manipulation tasks, and his foundational 2012 paper on miniaturizing the device has garnered **43 citations**, establishing a key reference in tactile robotics. Griffiths also advanced **electro-adhesion technology** for wall-climbing robots, enabling adhesion on smooth surfaces without suction or magnets. In medical robotics, he developed the **Motion Capture Pillow** for head-and-neck cancer radiotherapy, a patient-specific immobilization system that could replace uncomfortable thermoplastic masks. This work, presented at ESTRO in 2017 and published in 2018, addresses the needs of the **6 million annual radiotherapy patients** and has the potential to improve treatment accuracy and patient comfort. His design of a **detachable grappling hook** for nuclear cave environments further demonstrates his ability to solve complex, real-world manipulation challenges. With a career focused on translating robotic touch and mobility into practical healthcare and industrial solutions, Griffiths continues to push the boundaries of sensor-driven robotics.