Kyu‐Jin Cho

About

Kyu-Jin Cho is a pioneering roboticist whose work spans soft robotics, bio-inspired mechanisms, and wearable assistive technologies. Based at Seoul National University, Cho has fundamentally advanced the field of biomimetic robotics by translating biological principles into functional engineering systems, accumulating thousands of citations across his most influential contributions alone. Cho's research is perhaps best recognized through two landmark directions. His soft robotics work, exemplified by the Meshworm peristaltic robot (656 citations) and the Hygrobot humidity-powered microrobot (460 citations), demonstrates how biological locomotion strategies can be elegantly replicated using smart materials. Equally impactful is his development of wearable hand exoskeletons — the Exo-Glove series (466 and 252 citations) — which offer lightweight, tendon-driven solutions for individuals with spinal cord injuries, representing a meaningful clinical contribution alongside the engineering innovation. Cho has also made striking contributions to miniature jumping robots, including flea-inspired catapult mechanisms (272 citations) and water strider-inspired surface tension locomotion (418 citations). His origami-inspired foldable robotic arm further showcases his versatility. Foundational review papers on biomimetic underwater robots and soft robot manufacturing cement his role as both a practitioner and synthesizer of the field, making his work essential reading for anyone entering soft or bio-inspired robotics.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Meshworm: A Peristaltic Soft Robot With Antagonistic Nickel Titanium Coil Actuators

   656 citations · 2013
2. 2
   Exo-Glove: A Wearable Robot for the Hand with a Soft Tendon Routing System

   466 citations · 2015
3. 3
   Hygrobot: A self-locomotive ratcheted actuator powered by environmental humidity

   460 citations · 2018
4. 4
   Jumping on water: Surface tension–dominated jumping of water striders and robotic insects

   418 citations · 2015
5. 5
   Review of biomimetic underwater robots using smart actuators

   352 citations · 2012
6. 6
   Biomimetic Color Changing Anisotropic Soft Actuators with Integrated Metal Nanowire Percolation Network Transparent Heaters for Soft Robotics

   297 citations · 2018
7. 7
   Review of manufacturing processes for soft biomimetic robots

   273 citations · 2009
8. 8
   Flea-Inspired Catapult Mechanism for Miniature Jumping Robots

   272 citations · 2012
9. 9
   An origami-inspired, self-locking robotic arm that can be folded flat

   270 citations · 2018
10. 10
    Exo-Glove Poly II: A Polymer-Based Soft Wearable Robot for the Hand with a Tendon-Driven Actuation System

    252 citations · 2018

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links