James Avtges

Papers

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About

James Avtges is a pioneering researcher in the field of soft robotics, with a focus on developing high-performance, untethered systems that bridge the gap between compliance and capability. His key research areas include auxetic metamaterials, soft actuator design, and bio-inspired locomotion. Avtges’s major contribution is the invention of motorized Handed Shearing Auxetic (HSA) actuators, which enable soft robots to achieve unprecedented strength and endurance. His most-cited work, "Motorized, untethered soft robots via 3D printed auxetics" (2022, 25 citations), demonstrates a soft robot capable of operating for 65 minutes while carrying a payload of 1.5 kg—ranking second highest in operating time among comparable systems. In his more recent work, "Force and Speed in a Soft Stewart Platform" (2025, 3 citations), Avtges extended HSA technology to a 6-degree-of-freedom parallel mechanism, using one-third fewer mechatronic components than rigid alternatives while maintaining dynamic performance. His research is notable for systematically benchmarking soft robots against traditional systems, proving that soft actuators can achieve both speed and force without sacrificing autonomy. Avtges’s work is shaping the future of soft robotics for applications in search-and-rescue, exploration, and human-safe automation.