Thomas Thundat

University at Buffalo, State University of New York, University of Alberta

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Thomas Thundat is a pioneering force at the intersection of additive manufacturing, robotics, and smart materials. His research fundamentally redefines how we conceive of autonomous systems, focusing on sustainable fabrication and wireless energy solutions. Thundat’s most influential work, a 2020 review on 4D printing of gel materials (73 citations), establishes him as a leading voice in this emerging field, where printed structures evolve over time in response to stimuli. He has also made critical contributions to untethered robotics, developing quasi-wireless surface power and control systems that liberate robots from bulky batteries—a breakthrough with profound implications for autonomous operation. More recently, Thundat has advanced human-robot collaboration through wireless powered passive resonant sensing systems, enabling omnidirectional proximity detection for safer cooperative robots. His work on additive manufacturing for flexible sensors further underscores his commitment to sustainable, customizable production. With a career spanning foundational reviews to cutting-edge wireless power transfer, Thundat’s research consistently pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in smart, energy-autonomous systems. His contributions are shaping the next generation of adaptive, battery-free robotics and intelligent manufacturing.