Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Samuel Schlatter is a pioneer in the field of soft robotics, specializing in the development of entirely soft machines that mimic biological systems. His research focuses on dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) and advanced additive manufacturing techniques to create robots that are both compliant and functional. Schlatter’s major contributions include demonstrating the first entirely soft, electronics-free robot, which integrates control and actuation within a single soft structure—a breakthrough that eliminates the need for rigid electronic components. His highly cited works, such as “Soft Dielectric Elastomer Oscillators Driving Bioinspired Robots” (141 citations) and “Inkjet 3D printing of UV and thermal cure silicone elastomers for dielectric elastomer actuators” (131 citations), have established foundational methods for fabricating soft actuators with high energy densities and mechanical compliance. More recently, his inkjet printing approach for complex soft machines (50 citations) enables dense integration of electrostatic actuators and microfluidic networks, advancing the scalability of soft robotics. Schlatter’s work is pivotal for creating animal-like robots with artificial nervous systems, offering transformative potential for applications in medicine, exploration, and human-robot interaction.