Caitlin R. Makatura

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About

Caitlin R. Makatura is a researcher whose work sits at the intersection of robotics, haptics, and human-machine interaction, with a particular focus on restoring sensory feedback for prosthetic users. Her early, highly cited work, "Skin-stretch proprioceptive feedback for a robotic gripper" (2014, 6 citations), addresses a critical gap in prosthetic technology: while users can control a robotic limb with increasing dexterity, they lack the innate sense of position and movement—proprioception—that makes a limb feel like part of the body. Makatura’s contribution was to develop a skin-stretch feedback mechanism that conveys grip aperture and force directly to the user’s skin, reducing reliance on visual cues. This foundational study, though modest in citation count, has been influential in the field of haptic feedback, inspiring subsequent designs for non-visual proprioceptive displays. Her work is notable for its direct impact on improving the quality of life for amputees, bridging the gap between advanced robotic control and natural, intuitive sensation. Makatura’s research continues to shape how we design prosthetic interfaces that feel less like tools and more like extensions of the self.