Jessica A. Sandoval
Papers
5
Total Citations
55
H-Index
4
About
Jessica A. Sandoval is a leading researcher in bioinspired soft robotics, specializing in adhesion and locomotion in wet environments. Her work focuses on understanding and replicating the suction-based attachment mechanisms found in aquatic organisms like fish, cephalopods, and sea stars. Sandoval’s major contributions include developing soft grippers that combine suction and friction to stabilize objects in wet conditions, overcoming the lubrication challenges that typically limit robotic manipulation. She has also explored how tuning the morphology of suction discs enables directional adhesion, allowing robots to climb walls and walk underwater. Her research on bioinspired surface structures, such as papillae, has further enhanced shear stabilization in suction discs, improving performance on diverse substrates. With over 55 citations across her most-cited papers, Sandoval’s work has significant impact, particularly her 2022 study on soft grippers (25 citations) and her 2024 paper on stickiness in shear (10 citations). Notably, she developed a sea star-inspired soft robot that uses active suction for locomotion, demonstrating practical applications of her findings. Sandoval’s innovative approach bridges biology and engineering, offering transformative solutions for underwater robotics and manipulation.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 4Locomotion via Active Suction in a Sea Star-Inspired Soft Robot6 citations · 2022
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