Je‐Sung Koh

About

Je-Sung Koh is a pioneering roboticist whose work sits at the captivating intersection of biological inspiration and cutting-edge engineering. His research spans bio-inspired locomotion, soft robotics, miniature mechanisms, and origami-based structural design, consistently drawing from nature's most elegant solutions to solve complex engineering challenges. Koh's most celebrated contribution — a water-strider-inspired jumping robot that navigates water surfaces using surface tension dynamics — has garnered over 418 citations and exemplifies his ability to translate intricate biological hydrodynamics into functional robotic systems. His flea-inspired catapult mechanism (272 citations) and inchworm-mimicking Omegabot (235 citations) further demonstrate his mastery of energy storage and release principles at miniature scales. His 2009 review of soft biomimetic robot manufacturing (273 citations) remains a foundational reference for the field. Beyond locomotion, Koh has made significant contributions to precision robotics through the milliDelta robot, applicable to microsurgery and microassembly, and to smart materials through hydrogel-based soft aquabots. His work on origami-inspired deformable wheels and addressable wireless folding robots highlights a distinctive creative breadth. With cumulative citations exceeding 1,900, Koh's research has profoundly shaped how engineers design small-scale, nature-inspired robotic systems.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Jumping on water: Surface tension–dominated jumping of water striders and robotic insects

   418 citations · 2015
2. 2
   Review of manufacturing processes for soft biomimetic robots

   273 citations · 2009
3. 3
   Flea-Inspired Catapult Mechanism for Miniature Jumping Robots

   272 citations · 2012
4. 4
   Omega-Shaped Inchworm-Inspired Crawling Robot With Large-Index-and-Pitch (LIP) SMA Spring Actuators

   235 citations · 2012
5. 5
   The milliDelta: A high-bandwidth, high-precision, millimeter-scale Delta robot

   180 citations · 2018
6. 6
   Flytrap-inspired robot using structurally integrated actuation based on bistability and a developable surface

   160 citations · 2014
7. 7
   Addressable wireless actuation for multijoint folding robots and devices

   107 citations · 2017
8. 8
   The Deformable Wheel Robot Using Magic-Ball Origami Structure

   103 citations · 2013
9. 9
   High-performance electrified hydrogel actuators based on wrinkled nanomembrane electrodes for untethered insect-scale soft aquabots

   97 citations · 2022
10. 10
    Omegabot : Biomimetic inchworm robot using SMA coil actuator and smart composite microstructures (SCM)

    96 citations · 2009

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links