Jabulani R. Barber

Harvard University Press, Harvard University

Papers

Total Citations

441

H-Index

About

Jabulani R. Barber is a pioneering figure in soft robotics, best known for his groundbreaking work in harnessing controlled explosions to power compliant machines. His primary research areas span soft actuator design, combustion-driven systems, and bio-inspired robotics. Barber’s most significant contribution is the development of rapid, high-power actuation for soft robots using internal combustion—a paradigm shift from traditional pneumatic or hydraulic methods. His landmark 2013 paper, "Using Explosions to Power a Soft Robot," has accumulated over 328 citations, demonstrating its profound impact on the field. In this work, Barber demonstrated that computer-controlled sparks igniting premixed methane and oxygen inside a silicone elastomer body could generate enough pressure to make a soft robot jump, achieving speeds and forces previously unattainable in soft systems. He further advanced the field with his 2014 paper on a soft combustion-driven pump, which delivers pressures up to 60 kPa and flows of 40 ml/min, entirely from elastomeric materials. Barber’s work has opened new avenues for untethered, high-performance soft robots, inspiring a generation of researchers to explore energetic chemical reactions as a viable power source for compliant machines.