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About

Veikko Sariola is a multidisciplinary robotics and microengineering researcher whose work spans soft robotics, microassembly, and human-robot interaction. He has made significant contributions to the development of scalable fabrication methods for soft robotic systems, most notably through screen-printed curvature sensors and integrated pneumatic strain gauges that enable electronics-free sensing in soft robots — addressing a long-standing challenge in the field. His early foundational work on hybrid microassembly, which elegantly combines robotic manipulation with water droplet self-alignment, demonstrated how surface tension phenomena could dramatically improve assembly precision at the microscale, earning 96 citations and establishing him as a pioneer in capillary-assisted micromanipulation. Sariola's research on soft gripping technologies — including magnetically switchable suction grippers and 3D-printed pneumatic suction cups — has advanced the handling of fragile and geometrically complex objects, with those papers accumulating over 130 citations combined. He has also explored liquid spreading control through microfabricated surfaces and the electromagnetic manipulation of superparamagnetic microparticles for biomedical applications. Perhaps most surprisingly, his work extends into human-robot interaction, examining psychophysiological responses to eye contact with humanoid robots. With a diverse portfolio exceeding 560 total citations across these domains, Sariola represents a rare researcher whose innovations bridge the physical, material, and social dimensions of robotics.