Indrek Must, Estonia

IMS Lab, Institute of Technology University of Tartu

WG2, WG3, WG5-member

I am a soft roboticist who approaches robotics from the chemistry side. My educational background is in materials science. My research interests include engagement of ionically active materials in soft robotics for increased biocompatibility and for efficient use of bioinspired strategies.

In 2014, I have, together with my colleagues at the University of Tartu, demonstrated the world’s first power-autonomous terrestrial soft robot that is actuated by artificial muscles.

During my postdoc at Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Micro-Biorobotics, I was involved in plant-inspired actuation and stiffness variation strategies. More specifically, I demonstrated an electrochemically controlled stiffness modulation strategy.

Today, I am Associate Professor of Soft Robotics at the University of Tartu; I am working on soft robots on the textile platform.

Kaasik, F.; Must, I.; Baranova, I.; Põldsalu, I.; Lust, E.; Johanson, U., Punning, A. & Aabloo, A. (2017) “Scalable fabrication of ionic and capacitive laminate actuators for soft robotics” Sensors and Actuators B-Chemical, 246, 154-163

Must, I.; Kaasik, F.; Põldsalu, I.; Mihkels, L.; Johanson, U.; Punning, A.; Aabloo, A. (2014). “Ionic and Capacitive Artificial Muscle for Biomimetic Soft Robotics” Advanced Engineering Materials, 17, 84-94

Must, I., Vunder, V., Kaasik, F., Põldsalu, I., Johanson, U., Punning, A., Aabloo, A. “Ionic liquid-based actuators working in air: the effect of ambient humidity” Sensors & Actuators: B. Chemical, 202, 114–122

Must, I., Johanson, U., Kaasik, F., Põldsalu, I., Punning, A., & Aabloo, A. (2013) “Charging supercapacitor-like laminate with ambient moisture: from humidity sensor to energy harvester” Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 15, 9605 – 9614

Tamm, T.; Pärlin, K.; Tiimus, T.; Leemets, K.; Terasmaa, T.; Must, I. Smart insole sensors for sports and rehabilitation. Proc. SPIE: 9060, 90600L