Nigamaa Nayakanti

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About

Nigamaa Nayakanti is a researcher at the forefront of soft robotics and advanced materials, whose work bridges the gap between fundamental mechanics and practical manipulation technologies. Her research centers on three key areas: switchable adhesion for robotic gripping, tactile sensing, and metamaterial design. Nayakanti’s most impactful contribution is her 2020 study on "Limiting Mechanisms and Scaling of Electrostatically Controlled Adhesion of Soft Nanocomposite Surfaces for Robotic Gripping," which has garnered 23 citations. This work systematically unravels the physical constraints governing electrostatically switchable adhesives, providing critical design rules for robots that must rapidly grip and release objects—a capability essential for dexterous manipulation and locomotion. She further advanced tactile sensing with her 2023 work on "Low-Profile, Large-Range Compressive Strain Sensing Using Micromanufactured CNT Micropillar Arrays" (6 citations), developing a novel sensor architecture that mimics the human hand’s sensitivity. Her earlier exploration of "Twist Coupled Kirigami Cellular Metamaterials and Mechanisms" (2017, 3 citations) demonstrates her versatility in engineering complex force-displacement responses through folded and cut thin sheets. Together, these contributions establish Nayakanti as a rising innovator in creating intelligent, touch-responsive systems for robotics and manufacturing.