Papers
35
Total Citations
953
H-Index
15
About
Kristofer S. J. Pister is a pioneering researcher in microrobotics and miniaturized autonomous systems, whose work has fundamentally shaped how engineers approach the design and fabrication of millimeter- and insect-scale robots. Best known for his development of silicon-based microrobots, Pister has advanced the field through innovative use of silicon-on-insulator fabrication processes, enabling walking, jumping, and even flying robots at scales previously thought impractical. His 2003 solar-powered 10 mg silicon robot (172 citations) and 2017 single-legged millimeter-scale walker (41 citations) stand as landmark demonstrations of autonomous locomotion at extreme miniaturization. Equally notable is his 2017 "ionocraft" (35 citations), the first flying microrobot with no moving parts, exploiting electrohydrodynamic thrust to achieve vertical takeoff. Beyond hardware, Pister has embraced data-driven approaches, applying machine learning to optimize both robot morphology and locomotion gaits where physical models fall short. His open-source WARPWING platform (48 citations) reflects a commitment to accessible, reusable robotics infrastructure. With contributions spanning distributed robotics, MEMS fabrication, and autonomous control, Pister's work continues to inspire a generation of researchers pushing the boundaries of what small machines can do.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Solar powered 10 mg silicon robot172 citations · 2003
- 2CotsBots: an off-the-shelf platform for distributed robotics140 citations · 2004
- 3Surface-micromachined components for articulated microrobots97 citations · 1996
- 4Design of an Autonomous Jumping Microrobot77 citations · 2007
- 5WARPWING: A complete open source control platform for miniature robots48 citations · 2010
- 6Data-efficient Learning of Morphology and Controller for a Microrobot44 citations · 2019
- 7First steps of a millimeter-scale walking silicon robot41 citations · 2017
- 8First takeoff of a flying microrobot with no moving parts35 citations · 2017
- 9Learning Flexible and Reusable Locomotion Primitives for a Microrobot30 citations · 2018
- 10