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About

Cheng Yao is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-computer interaction, co-creative robotics, and educational technology. Their work fundamentally explores how tangible, embodied systems can transform creative collaboration and STEM learning. Yao’s most influential contribution is the development of co-creative robots that move beyond virtual agents, as demonstrated in their highly cited paper “It Is Your Turn: Collaborative Ideation With a Co-Creative Robot through Sketch” (114 citations). This work established a new paradigm for human-robot co-creation, showing how physical sketching robots can enhance designers’ early-stage ideation. Yao has also made significant advances in shape-changing interfaces with “PneuMesh” (24 citations), a pneumatic-driven truss system that combines structural stability with dynamic reconfiguration. A consistent thread in Yao’s research is designing for children’s education. Through projects like ModBot and the underwater robot construction kit, they have created tangible making toolkits that introduce young learners to robotics and marine technology. Most recently, with KiPneu, Yao has pioneered biomimicry education through constructive pneumatic platforms, integrating STEAM learning with nature-inspired design. With over 160 citations across their portfolio, Yao’s work continues to shape how we think about embodied interaction, creative collaboration, and accessible robotics education.