Benjamin Shih

About

Benjamin Shih is a pioneering roboticist whose research sits at the intersection of soft robotics, embedded sensing, and machine learning. His work has fundamentally advanced how robots perceive and interact with the physical world, with a particular focus on creating intelligent, biologically inspired systems capable of operating in extreme and delicate environments. Shih's most influential contributions center on electronic skins and soft sensor integration. His 2020 paper on e-skins and machine learning for soft robots has garnered 680 citations, while his 2019 work on recurrent neural networks for soft robot perception has accumulated 648 citations — together representing landmark achievements in enabling robots to achieve human-like tactile sensing and proprioception. These studies have become foundational references across the robotics community. Beyond sensing, Shih has made significant strides in fabrication innovation, variable stiffness mechanisms using fiber jamming, and deep-sea exploration robotics, with his 2023 bioinspired deep-sea robot paper already earning 199 citations. His early work on pneumatic actuators and soft grippers further demonstrates a career-long commitment to making robots safer, more capable, and more adaptable. Altogether, his research has shaped the trajectory of modern soft robotics, influencing applications spanning surgical devices, wearable haptics, and autonomous underwater exploration.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Electronic skins and machine learning for intelligent soft robots

   680 citations · 2020
2. 2
   Soft robot perception using embedded soft sensors and recurrent neural networks

   648 citations · 2019
3. 3
   Bioinspired soft robots for deep-sea exploration

   199 citations · 2023
4. 4
   Desktop fabrication of monolithic soft robotic devices with embedded fluidic control circuits

   131 citations · 2023
5. 5
   Variable Stiffness Devices Using Fiber Jamming for Application in Soft Robotics and Wearable Haptics

   113 citations · 2021
6. 6
   Design Considerations for 3D Printed, Soft, Multimaterial Resistive Sensors for Soft Robotics

   106 citations · 2019
7. 7
   Custom soft robotic gripper sensor skins for haptic object visualization

   93 citations · 2017
8. 8
   Differential pressure control of 3D printed soft fluidic actuators

   73 citations · 2017
9. 9
   Morphing Structure for Changing Hydrodynamic Characteristics of a Soft Underwater Walking Robot

   64 citations · 2019
10. 10
    Soft pneumatic actuators for legged locomotion

    29 citations · 2014

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links