Rachel Miller

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About

Rachel Miller is a pioneering researcher in soft robotics and haptic interfaces, with a focus on granular jamming and novel actuation mechanisms. Her major contributions include the development of elastomer-granule composites that enable independent control over isometric and isotonic actuation—a breakthrough that allows soft structures to seamlessly switch between compliant and rigid states via negative pressure. This work, detailed in her highly cited 2022 paper “Pump Up the Jam,” has been applied to universal gripping and adaptive mobile systems, earning 11 citations and establishing her as a leader in tunable stiffness materials. More recently, Miller has advanced tactile display technology with her 2025 study on explosion-powered eversible displays, which addresses the critical challenge of scaling resolution in haptic devices for virtual reality and accessibility for blind users. Though this work is nascent with 3 citations, it represents a bold step toward high-resolution, individually addressable tactile arrays. Miller’s research bridges fundamental physics and practical engineering, offering transformative tools for robotics, human-machine interaction, and assistive technology. Her innovative approach to jamming and explosive actuation continues to inspire new directions in adaptive materials and sensory feedback systems.