Urmas Johanson
Papers
10
Total Citations
284
H-Index
7
About
Urmas Johanson is an accomplished materials scientist and robotics researcher whose work centers on electroactive polymer actuators, soft robotics, and biomimetic systems. He has made significant contributions to the development and practical application of ionic electromechanically active polymers (IEAPs), a class of smart materials that bend and deform in response to electrical stimulation, closely mimicking the behavior of biological muscle tissue. Johanson's most influential work, "Ionic and Capacitive Artificial Muscle for Biomimetic Soft Robotics" (2014, 176 citations), introduced a breakthrough laminate actuator combining high electrically induced strain with high bending modulus — a rare and technically demanding combination in the field. Building on this foundation, he has advanced scalable fabrication techniques, explored biofriendly ionic liquid-based actuators for biomedical applications, and demonstrated real-world devices including soft grippers and a self-powered autonomous rolling robot. His more recent research has expanded into textile-based non-muscular actuators and biocompatible encapsulation methods, broadening the translational potential of these technologies. With over 280 cumulative citations across his published work, Johanson's research has meaningfully shaped the trajectory of soft actuator technology, offering tangible pathways toward safer, more adaptable robotic and biomedical devices.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Ionic and Capacitive Artificial Muscle for Biomimetic Soft Robotics176 citations · 2014
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- 4Soft shape-adaptive gripping device made from artificial muscle10 citations · 2016
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- 6Pulse-width-modulated charging of ionic and capacitive actuators7 citations · 2014
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