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About

Eric Chang is a pioneering researcher in bioinspired robotics and avian flight mechanics, whose work bridges biology and engineering to create morphing-wing technologies. His key research areas include biohybrid robotics, feather-based morphing wings, and gust-mitigation flight control. Chang’s most impactful contribution is the development of soft biohybrid morphing wings that replicate the underactuated coordination of bird feathers—controlled by wrist and finger motion—enabling continuous wing shape change without discrete flaps. His 2020 paper on this topic has garnered 165 citations, establishing a foundation for rudderless flight. In related work (110 citations), he revealed how elastic connective tissue passively redistributes overlapping flight feathers, explaining birds’ ability to morph wings seamlessly. Chang also demonstrated that lovebirds can navigate lateral gusts with minimal visual information (27 citations), inspiring reflexive control strategies for drones. His 2024 study (23 citations) showed that gliding birds achieve rudderless stability through distributed feather morphing, a principle now guiding the design of tailless aircraft. By decoding avian flight secrets, Chang is redefining aerial robotics, offering efficient, gust-tolerant designs that could transform drone and aircraft engineering.