Dominic Melville

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About

Dominic Melville is a pioneering researcher in the field of soft robotics and tactile sensing, with a focus on enabling dexterous manipulation in challenging, fluid-rich environments. His work bridges the gap between fundamental tribology and practical robotic design, particularly for submerged or lubricated conditions. Melville’s major contributions include the development of bio-inspired tactile sensors that leverage fingertip suction flow, allowing robots to sense and manipulate objects underwater—a critical advancement for ocean exploration and industrial maintenance. His 2020 paper on "Milliscale Features Increase Friction of Soft Skin in Lubricated Contact" (20 citations) demonstrates how micro-patterning can enhance grip on slippery surfaces, directly informing the design of more reliable robotic grippers for real-world settings like kitchens or marine environments. Another key work, "Tactile sensing based on fingertip suction flow for submerged dexterous manipulation" (16 citations), introduces a novel sensing modality that overcomes the limitations of traditional vision-based systems in dark, high-pressure aquatic conditions. With a growing citation impact, Melville’s research is shaping the next generation of resilient, adaptive robots capable of operating in the most demanding environments.