Dr Josh Pinskier

Josh joined CSIRO Data61 in 2020 as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Robotics and Autonomous Systems Group’s. He studied Mechatronics Engineering and Commerce at Monash University before completing his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Monash in 2019.

Using his background in topology optimisation and compliant mechanism design for nano-manipulation, Josh’s research has focused on the developing computational design tools to rapidly generate high performing soft robots for agricultural applications. He hopes bespoke fruit picking tools will soon be just a click away.
Josh has expertise in multiphysics design and topology optimisation, finite element analysis, compliant mechanism and soft robotic design, and micromanipulation.

In addition to topology optimisation and soft robotics, he is interested in exploring the broad space of computational and autonomous design, to find efficient methodologies for high dimensional design optimisation problems for macro and microscale applications. This includes evolutionary and AI based optimisation, physics informed modelling, body-brain coevolution, robotic perception, and minimising the simulation to reality gap.