Hongbin Liu
King's College London, King's College School, Robotics Research (United States), King's College Hospital, University of London, Centre de Robotique, St Thomas' Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, University of Portsmouth, Institute of Automation, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
Papers
105
Total Citations
3,258
H-Index
33
About
Hongbin Liu is a prominent robotics researcher whose work spans tactile sensing, soft robotics, continuum manipulators, and medical robotics. His most influential contribution, a 2017 review on robotic tactile perception of object properties (407 citations), established a foundational reference for researchers exploring how robots sense and interpret physical contact. This work complements his broader investigations into haptic exploration and in-hand object pose estimation, where he developed intelligent sensing strategies enabling robots to recognize surface materials and localize grasped objects with remarkable precision. Liu has made significant advances in soft and continuum robotics, introducing novel designs including macrobend optical fiber sensors for pose measurement in soft robot arms and a serially connected double-layer planar spring continuum manipulator. His research increasingly addresses real-world medical challenges: he contributed pioneering work on robotic colonoscopy systems and designed a low-cost miniature robot for COVID-19 nasopharyngeal swab collection, demonstrating responsiveness to urgent clinical needs. His finite-element modeling of soft tissue rolling indentation further bridges robotics and surgical applications. With over 1,200 cumulative citations across his most recognized works, Liu's research consistently advances the frontier of intelligent, human-centered robotic systems with tangible biomedical impact.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Robotic tactile perception of object properties: A review407 citations · 2017
- 2Macrobend optical sensing for pose measurement in soft robot arms149 citations · 2015
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- 6A Novel Robotic Meshworm With Segment-Bending Anchoring for Colonoscopy80 citations · 2017
- 7Finite-Element Modeling of Soft Tissue Rolling Indentation75 citations · 2011
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- 10Finger contact sensing and the application in dexterous hand manipulation66 citations · 2015