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About

Dong-Yeop Seok is a prominent robotics researcher whose work centers on force/torque sensing, surgical robotics, and advanced mechatronic systems. His most influential contributions lie in developing miniaturized, high-precision multi-axis force/torque sensors that bridge the gap between robotic capability and real-world surgical and industrial applications. His 2016 and 2017 papers introducing novel six-axis force/torque sensors—garnering 137 and 140 citations respectively—established capacitive transduction as a practical, cost-effective approach for robust robotic sensing. Building directly on this foundation, Seok extended these innovations into minimally invasive surgery, developing sensorized surgical forceps with five-degree-of-freedom sensing (109 citations) and a portable surgical robot, S-Surge, capable of multiaxis force feedback. His research demonstrates a consistent commitment to translating sensing technology into tangible clinical tools, including force-feedback user interfaces that enhance surgeon intuition during robotic procedures. Beyond surgical robotics, Seok has made notable contributions to quadruped locomotion systems and torque-controllable actuator modules, reflecting a broader expertise in embodied robotic intelligence. More recently, his work on soft manipulator shape estimation using stretchable sensors signals an exciting expansion toward compliant, human-safe robotic systems. With over 660 cumulative citations, Seok's body of work represents a significant and practical advancement in the sensing technologies that underpin modern intelligent robotics.