Steven J. Keating

About

Steven J. Keating is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of robotics, digital fabrication, and architectural-scale construction. His work focuses on developing robust, low-cost robotic systems that democratize advanced manufacturing capabilities. Keating's most impactful contribution is the design and analysis of a highly articulated manipulator enabled by jamming of granular media (317 citations), which introduced a novel approach to creating hyper-redundant robots that are both affordable and resilient. He further advanced the field through his work on site-specific robotic fabrication for architectural scales (251 citations), demonstrating how autonomous robots can construct complex, non-rectilinear structures using locally sourced materials—a paradigm shift toward self-sufficient building practices. Keating also contributed to microfluidics with a 3D printed multimaterial microfluidic valve (73 citations), enabling precise fluid control for programmable lab-on-a-chip devices. His research has been recognized for its interdisciplinary impact, spanning from art to utility, and his work on the Digital Construction Platform has been featured in prominent media outlets. Keating's vision of "renaissance robotics" continues to inspire new applications in design, fabrication, and beyond.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Design and Analysis of a Robust, Low-cost, Highly Articulated manipulator enabled by jamming of granular media

   317 citations · 2012
2. 2
   Toward site-specific and self-sufficient robotic fabrication on architectural scales

   251 citations · 2017
3. 3
   3D Printed Multimaterial Microfluidic Valve

   73 citations · 2016
4. 4
   Renaissance robotics : novel applications of multipurpose robotic arms spanning design fabrication, utility, and art

   9 citations · 2012

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links