Anthony McNicoll

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Anthony McNicoll is a pioneering figure in soft robotics, best known for his groundbreaking work on untethered, granular jamming systems. His research bridges the gap between soft robotic actuation and practical, user-centered applications, with a primary focus on prosthetic and assistive devices. McNicoll’s major contribution is the development of the Prosthetic Jamming Terminal Device (PJTD), a case study that demonstrated how jamming of granular media can be harnessed for adaptive, variable-stiffness gripping in a fully untethered format. This work, published in a highly cited 2016 paper (50 citations), directly addressed the critical challenge of power and control autonomy that had long limited soft robotics in real-world settings. By proving that a soft gripper could operate without external tethers, McNicoll opened new pathways for lightweight, low-cost prosthetics that mimic the adaptability of the human hand. His achievements underscore a commitment to translating complex soft robotic principles into tangible, life-changing technologies, making him a key voice in the movement toward accessible, wearable robotic systems.