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About

Mingtong Li is an emerging force in soft robotics and miniature actuator research, with work spanning light-driven hydrogel systems, magnetic soft robots, and minimally invasive medical technologies. His early landmark contribution — a light-driven hydrogel actuator capable of fast, in-air jumping and rolling (2020, 231 citations) — challenged conventional assumptions about hydrogel actuation by circumventing the need for aqueous environments, opening new possibilities for untethered soft robotic systems. Li subsequently pivoted toward magnetic miniature robotics, developing wireless phase-change soft actuators with significantly improved force output (139 citations), scale-reconfigurable ferrofluidic robots for navigating variable confined spaces (106 citations), and a magnetically actuated millimeter-scale gearbox that addresses longstanding torque limitations in miniature systems (78 citations). A particularly impactful contribution is his adaptive wireless millirobot for distal vascular navigation (129 citations), demonstrating real clinical relevance for minimally invasive endovascular procedures. His more recent work explores real-time magnetization reprogramming, multi-robot deployment in three-dimensional lumens, and bioinspired rotary flight, reflecting a broadening research vision. With over 780 cumulative citations, Li represents a prolific and rapidly maturing researcher at the intersection of materials science, robotics, and biomedical engineering.