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About

Yong-Jai Park is a robotics engineer whose research sits at the dynamic intersection of biomimetic robotics, smart actuators, and soft robotics systems. His work has made significant contributions to our understanding of how biological principles — particularly fish locomotion — can be harnessed to design more efficient underwater robots. Park's most influential contribution, a 2012 review of biomimetic underwater robots using smart actuators (352 citations), established him as a leading voice in the field and remains a foundational reference for researchers entering the discipline. Alongside this, his investigations into compliant caudal fins and variable-stiffness mechanisms revealed critical kinematic conditions for maximizing thrust in robotic fish, earning over 100 additional citations and directly informing the design of bio-inspired underwater vehicles. As his career progressed, Park expanded his focus toward soft robotics, developing innovative gripper systems — including tendon-driven pneumatic designs and EGaIn sensor-integrated grippers — that address real-world manipulation challenges in industrial automation. His variable-stiffness endoskeleton research further bridges underwater robotics with broader soft-machine design principles. Across his body of work, Park demonstrates a consistent ability to translate biological insight into practical engineering solutions, making him a valuable reference point for students and researchers working across robotics, mechatronics, and biomechanics.