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About

Zhimiao Yan is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of mechanical metamaterials, bioinspired robotics, and embodied intelligence. Their work centers on reprogrammable mechanical systems, avian and insect-inspired flapping-wing robotics, and autonomous mechanical computing. Yan’s major contributions include developing a reprogrammable mechanical metamaterial that uses origami functional-group transformation and ring reconfiguration to achieve in situ property changes—a breakthrough for intelligent matter design. This work has garnered 72 citations since 2023, reflecting its rapid impact. In biohybrid robotics, Yan introduced avian-inspired embodied perception for flapping-wing aircraft, enabling high maneuverability and stealth without weight penalties (26 citations). Their scarab beetle-inspired membranous-wing robot, which integrates flapping-collision piezo-mechanoreception for mobile environmental monitoring, exemplifies embodied-energy design (12 citations). Most recently, Yan proposed spatially programmable origami networks for high-density mechanical computing, enabling autonomous robotic logic decision-making without electronic components. This work, published in 2025, promises to redefine multifunctional, reconfigurable robotic systems. Yan’s research consistently pushes boundaries by merging structural reconfiguration with sensory and computational functions, offering transformative pathways for lightweight, autonomous, and adaptive machines.