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About

Yves Perriard is a prominent researcher whose work spans soft robotics, smart actuator technologies, and miniaturized electromechanical systems. His most celebrated contribution is the development of an autonomous, untethered soft robotic insect driven by low-voltage dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs), a landmark 2019 paper that has accumulated over 518 citations and demonstrated that sub-gram robots could operate intelligently without tethering — a longstanding challenge in the field. This breakthrough exemplifies his broader focus on harnessing compliant, biomimetic designs for next-generation robotics. Perriard has made sustained contributions to smart material actuators, including shape memory alloy (SMA)-powered systems and fiber-reinforced DEAs, pushing the boundaries of artificial muscle technology for robotics and prosthetics. His work on kirigami-inspired SMA actuators and electropermanent magnet-based magnetorheological valves reflects a talent for blending structural ingenuity with functional miniaturization. Earlier contributions to ultrasonic motor control and self-sensing piezoelectric cantilevers further illustrate his range across precision motor technologies. More recently, his investigations into electrode fabrication for DEAs and buckling instabilities in fiber-reinforced actuators underscore a commitment to translating fundamental material insights into practical, manufacturable solutions, cementing his reputation as a versatile and impactful figure in advanced actuator and micro-robotic research.