Marc-Antoine Lacasse

Papers

Total Citations

196

H-Index

About

Marc-Antoine Lacasse is a leading researcher in the field of physical human-robot interaction (pHRI), with a core focus on developing safe, tactile, and mechanically intelligent robotic systems. His most significant contributions lie in the creation of novel, flexible robot skins designed to enhance safety during human-robot contact. His seminal 2009 paper, "A flexible robot skin for safe physical human robot interaction" (91 citations), introduced a groundbreaking skin capable of sensing multiple contact locations across a robot’s entire body, a critical feature for intuitive and safe collaboration. Building on this, his 2010 work (66 citations) characterized carbon-black-filled silicone for use in a stretchable, homogeneous robot skin, advancing the material science behind tactile sensing. Lacasse also made notable strides in mechanical design with his 2013 paper (39 citations) on a 7-DOF statically balanced serial robot, which uses remote counterweights and low-pressure hydraulics for gravity compensation—a clever approach to reducing actuator effort and improving safety. Through this body of work, Lacasse has established himself as a key innovator in creating robots that are not only aware of their environment but also inherently safer and more compliant for human collaboration.