Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

James McCann is a leading researcher at the intersection of digital fabrication, computer graphics, and human-computer interaction, with a core focus on computational design for textile-based manufacturing. His major contributions lie in pioneering accessible tools and methods that transform how we design and produce functional, interactive, and even robotic objects from fabric. McCann’s work on **3D knitting for pneumatic soft robotics** (87 citations) is a standout achievement, demonstrating how advanced machine knitting can create complex, compliant actuators from a single yarn, opening new avenues for safe, adaptable robots. He also developed **Geppetto** (56 citations), an interactive system that simplifies the design of expressive robot behaviors by allowing users to edit complex control parameters through data-driven editing. His research further extends to **assembly-aware design** of printable electromechanical devices (22 citations), empowering casual users to customize their own gadgets. More recently, McCann has explored the **SPEERLoom** open-source loom kit to engage students in math and engineering, and even applied CNC knitting to create high-resolution textiles that block mosquito bites. With a portfolio that bridges engineering, design, and public health, McCann’s work is highly cited and profoundly influential, shaping the future of digital fabrication and soft robotics.