K. B. Vinayakumar

Cornell University, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory

Papers

Total Citations

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About

K. B. Vinayakumar is a researcher advancing the frontiers of micro-robotics and tactile sensing through innovative materials and power systems. His primary research areas include high-voltage power supplies for micro-actuators, pyroelectric energy harvesting, and flexible ferroelectret-based sensors. Vinayakumar’s most cited work, “Multi Kilovolt Lithium Niobate Pyroelectric Cantilever Switched Power Supply” (2019, 13 citations), addresses a critical challenge in micro-robotics: generating the kilovolt-level voltages needed for piezoelectric actuators without adding prohibitive weight or size. By leveraging the pyroelectric effect in lithium niobate, he demonstrated a compact, integrated power supply that enables functional microrobots to operate autonomously. In a more recent contribution, “Pyroelectrically Charged Flexible Ferroelectret-Based Tactile Sensor for Surface Texture Detection” (2022, 5 citations), Vinayakumar combined a patterned elastomer layer with a ferroelectret pressure sensor to achieve sensitive texture discrimination—a key capability for artificial touch in robotics. This work highlights his ability to merge materials science with practical sensor design. His achievements underscore a commitment to solving real-world integration problems, making high-performance robotics and tactile systems more viable for applications ranging from medical devices to industrial automation.