Papers
7
Total Citations
165
H-Index
5
About
Yifei Li is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of robotics, manufacturing, and soft materials, whose work bridges simulation, actuation, and intelligent automation. His most impactful contribution, the award-winning *DiffCloth* (80 citations), introduces a differentiable cloth simulator that unlocks gradient-based optimization for applications in animation, garment design, and robot-assisted dressing—transforming how complex frictional contacts are modeled. In soft robotics, Li’s light-fueled polymer film (53 citations) achieves unprecedented locomotion, including directional crawling and climbing on a human hair, demonstrating wirelessly controlled, self-sustained motion that pushes the boundaries of miniature actuators. More recently, Li has pioneered the use of large language models to enhance human-robot collaborative assembly (16 citations), enabling adaptive, flexible manufacturing systems. His work also extends to hybrid robot milling, cloud-based pneumatic manipulator control, and mobile additive manufacturing frameworks, all aimed at sustainable, smart production. With a growing citation footprint and a portfolio that spans fundamental simulation to applied robotics, Li is shaping the future of intelligent, responsive manufacturing systems.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1DiffCloth: Differentiable Cloth Simulation with Dry Frictional Contact80 citations · 2022
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- 7Harnessing Controls and Robotics for Sustainable Manufacturing3 citations · 2024