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About

Zheqi Chen is a leading researcher in soft robotics and smart materials, with a primary focus on dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) that mimic natural muscle for high-performance, insect-scale machines. His major contributions include pioneering methods to achieve anisotropy and sub-kilovolt actuation in dielectric elastomers, enabling highly maneuverable soft robots. His 2020 paper on anisotropic electroactive elastomers (68 citations) and his 2023 work on 3D-printed high-frequency DEAs for ultrafast soft robots (65 citations) have set new benchmarks in the field. Chen also developed a triblock copolymer-based self-strengthening dielectric elastomer that significantly improves electromechanical performance under low voltage, and a polymer design achieving large motion under low electric fields (37 citations). His 2024 paper on large-side-group networks for soft robotic grippers (39 citations) further demonstrates his impact. With over 200 total citations, Chen’s work bridges materials science and robotics, offering practical pathways to agile, insect-inspired soft robots for exploration and rescue. His innovations in low-voltage, high-deformation actuators are pivotal for next-generation soft machines.