Sukjun Kim

About

Sukjun Kim is a pioneering robotics researcher whose work spans origami-inspired mechanisms, microrobotics, soft robotics, and minimally invasive medical devices. His most celebrated contribution, "An Origami-Inspired, Self-Locking Robotic Arm That Can Be Folded Flat" (2018), has garnered over 270 citations and demonstrated how foldable, lightweight structures can dramatically expand the capabilities of mobile robots and UAVs in confined environments. Building on this foundation, Kim has made significant strides in miniaturized actuation, developing 3D-printed electrostatic microactuators and characterizing conductive elastomers for soft robotic skins — work that addresses fundamental fabrication challenges in wearable haptics and microrobotics. His research on vine robots, including magnetic skin integration for surgical navigation and liquid crystal elastomer-driven steering at millimeter scales, highlights his commitment to translating soft robotics innovations into clinical applications. The creation of Picotaur, a 15 mg hexapedal robot with electrostatically driven 3D-printed legs, exemplifies his exceptional ability to push the boundaries of sub-gram-scale locomotion. With contributions ranging from endovascular surgical robots to NiTi thin-film actuators, Kim's interdisciplinary body of work is reshaping the frontiers of both medical robotics and autonomous miniature systems.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   An origami-inspired, self-locking robotic arm that can be folded flat

   270 citations · 2018
2. 2
   3D‐Printed Electrostatic Microactuators for Flexible Microsystems

   28 citations · 2023
3. 3
   Vine Robots With Magnetic Skin for Surgical Navigations

   20 citations · 2024
4. 4
   Electromechanical Characterization of 3D Printable Conductive Elastomer for Soft Robotics

   17 citations · 2020
5. 5
   Hierarchical Integration of Thin-Film NiTi Actuators Using Additive Manufacturing for Microrobotics

   14 citations · 2020
6. 6
   LCE-integrated soft skin for millimeter-scale steerable soft everting robots

   10 citations · 2025
7. 7
   Picotaur: A 15 mg Hexapedal Robot with Electrostatically Driven, 3D‐Printed Legs

   6 citations · 2024
8. 8
   Serially-Connected Soft Continuum Robots for Endovascular Emergencies

   4 citations · 2025
9. 9
   Active Stiffening for Vine Robots via Axially Stacked Pneumatic Pouches

   2 citations · 2025
10. 10
    Kinked Air Channel Enables Retraction of Small-Scale Soft Everting Robots

    2 citations · 2025

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links