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About

Yuqi Qiu is at the forefront of flexible electronics and robotic tactile sensing, pioneering the integration of mechanical metamaterials into electronic skin (E-skin). Her major contributions lie in designing ultra-sensitive, flexible sensors that enable robots—including surgical systems—to perceive touch with unprecedented precision. Her most cited work (112 citations) introduces a flexible mechanical metamaterial-based E-skin for real-time detection of unstable grasping in robotic manipulation, a breakthrough that directly enhances autonomous dexterity. She further advanced the field by developing ionic electronic skin for surgical robots (45 citations), addressing the critical challenge of tactile feedback in high-stakes medical procedures. Her research on flexible sensors with zero Poisson’s ratio (34 citations) demonstrates her ability to solve complex multiaxial strain measurement problems through innovative material design. By merging metamaterial mechanics with soft electronics, Qiu’s work has practical implications for prosthetics, human-robot interaction, and minimally invasive surgery. Her achievements highlight a rare combination of fundamental material science and applied robotics, making her a rising leader in the quest to give machines a sense of touch.