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About

Thomas Pillsbury is a robotics and mechanical engineering researcher whose work has significantly advanced the design, miniaturization, and application of pneumatic artificial muscles (PAMs). His research focuses on soft robotics, bio-inspired actuation systems, and prosthetic and orthotic devices, with a particular emphasis on developing lightweight, high-performance actuators that mimic biological muscle behavior. Pillsbury's most influential contribution examines how bladder wall thickness affects miniature PAM performance, earning 33 citations and establishing foundational design principles for small-scale actuators. His comparative studies of contractile and extensile PAMs — cited a combined 41 times across two publications — have become key references in the soft robotics community, helping researchers select appropriate actuator types for diverse applications. His work on variable recruitment in bundled miniature PAMs, drawing 19 citations, introduced a biologically inspired strategy for force modulation that mirrors how the human neuromuscular system operates. More recently, Pillsbury has extended PAM applications to mobile robotics, investigating anchoring muscles for pipe-crawling robots. Across his career, his research has collectively garnered over 95 citations, reflecting meaningful impact on the fields of soft robotics, prosthetics, and anthropomorphic robotic manipulation.