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About

Crystal Winston is a pioneering roboticist whose work spans aerial-aquatic systems, in-pipe inspection, planetary exploration, and soft robotics. Her most recognized contribution is the MEDUSA robot (45 citations), a multi-environment dual-robot designed for underwater sample acquisition, addressing the fundamental challenges of operating seamlessly in both air and water. She also developed a practical minimalism approach to in-pipe robot localization (20 citations), advancing leak detection in water infrastructure. Winston’s ReachBot concept (14 citations) introduces a small robot with exceptional reach for rough terrain, using extendable arms and spined grippers for planetary exploration. Her work on self-sensing cellulose structures (12 citations) integrates design-controlled stiffness for soft robots operating in vulnerable environments, while her latest project, Flying Vines (2025), proposes a lightweight soft aerial robotic arm for inspection in hard-to-reach areas. With over 90 total citations and a focus on practical, minimalistic design, Winston’s research consistently pushes the boundaries of robot adaptability and environmental interaction, making her a rising leader in field robotics.