Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Haipeng Mi is a pioneering researcher working at the intersection of human-computer interaction, robotics, and tangible interfaces, with particular expertise in soft actuated materials, social robotics, and child-centered design. His most influential work, "milliMorph" (2019, 74 citations), introduced a groundbreaking fabrication system for fluid-driven thin-film shape-change materials, enabling high-frequency actuation for next-generation tangible interfaces. His RoboTable series (2009–2011) established an early and significant framework for mixed-reality tabletop environments that allow intuitive interaction with physical and virtual robots, making robot programming accessible to non-expert users. Mi has demonstrated a consistent commitment to designing robots for children's learning and creativity, as evidenced by projects like Shybo and MotionFlow, which explore playful, low-anthropomorphic robot design and expressive motion programming. His cross-cultural studies on social robot interaction and humanoid designs such as RoboQuin further reflect his broad interdisciplinary reach, spanning HCI, mechanical design, and social science. With work extending into robotic art and musical performance, Mi brings a uniquely creative dimension to technical research. Collectively, his publications have accumulated nearly 220 citations, marking him as a formative voice in interactive and social robotics.