Lauri Mihkels

Papers

Total Citations

183

H-Index

About

Lauri Mihkels is a researcher at the forefront of biomimetic soft robotics, specializing in ionic electroactive polymer (IEAP) actuators—artificial muscles that mimic biological motion. His most significant contribution is the development of a high-performance ionic and capacitive artificial muscle laminate, detailed in his highly cited 2014 paper (176 citations). This work achieved a rare combination of high electrically induced strain and high bending modulus, directly addressing a critical bottleneck in soft robotics: creating actuators that are both powerful and flexible. Beyond material innovation, Mihkels advanced the practical control of these devices. In a subsequent 2014 study, he introduced a pulse-width-modulated (PWM) charging method, replacing complex analog signals with a simple digital driving strategy. This innovation dramatically simplifies the control hardware, making IEAP actuators more accessible for real-world applications. By bridging materials science and control engineering, Mihkels has helped pave the way for more lifelike, efficient, and easily deployable soft robotic systems.