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About

Milan Shrestha is a leading researcher in soft robotics and smart materials, with a focus on dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) and their transformative applications. His work bridges fundamental actuator design and multifunctional systems, achieving notable impact in the field. Shrestha’s most cited paper, “Dielectric elastomer fingers for versatile grasping and nimble pinching” (138 citations), introduces a groundbreaking three-dimensional finger design that enables voltage-controllable bending and concentrated force application, overcoming limitations of boneless soft grippers for delicate object manipulation. He has also advanced fabrication techniques, as seen in “Ink-Jet Printing of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS)” (92 citations), which explores additive manufacturing for sub-millimeter sensors and actuators. Beyond robotics, Shrestha has pioneered multifunctional smart windows using DEAs for simultaneous transparency tuning and noise absorption (22 citations), demonstrating the versatility of soft actuators. His recent work on rotary haptic devices with conical DEAs (2024) further expands the potential for human-machine interaction. With over 260 total citations, Shrestha’s contributions are shaping next-generation soft robotic systems, adaptive structures, and haptic technologies, making him a key figure in the evolution of compliant, voltage-driven actuators.