Papers
3
Total Citations
48
H-Index
3
About
Angel Santarossa is a rising figure in soft robotics, whose work centers on the mechanics of granular jamming—a technique that transforms loose particles into a rigid, gripping mass. His primary research areas include soft robotic grippers, granular material mechanics, and the design of adaptive, gentle-yet-strong end-effectors. Santarossa’s major contribution lies in demonstrating that soft particles, such as expanded polystyrene beads, significantly outperform rigid ones in granular jamming grippers, achieving much larger gripping forces. This counterintuitive finding, published in his most-cited 2021 paper (39 citations), challenges conventional assumptions and opens new avenues for delicate object manipulation. He further advanced the field by exploring hard-soft particle mixtures, showing through X-ray imaging how interlocking effects enhance grip performance—work detailed in his 2024 paper. With an emerging citation record that reflects growing interest, Santarossa’s research is shaping the next generation of robotic grippers for applications in manufacturing, agriculture, and healthcare. His innovative use of everyday materials to solve complex engineering problems makes his work both accessible and impactful for students and researchers alike.
Research Focus
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