Jinho So

About

Jinho So is a robotics and medical engineering researcher specializing in force/torque sensing, minimally invasive surgery (MIS), and robotic-assisted surgical systems. His work sits at the critical intersection of sensor design, surgical robotics, and human-robot interaction, with a consistent focus on developing compact, highly capable sensing technologies for clinical environments. So's most significant contributions include the development of novel 6-axis force/torque sensors using capacitive transduction principles, enabling unprecedented tactile feedback in robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery. His surgical palpation probe (2017, 140 citations) and sensorized surgical forceps (2018, 109 citations) represent landmark achievements in bringing multi-axis force sensing to laparoscopic instruments — a long-standing challenge in the field. His portable surgical robot, S-Surge, further demonstrated his ability to integrate these sensing innovations into complete, deployable systems. Beyond surgical applications, So has advanced general robotic technology through embedded torque sensor actuator modules and capacitive joint torque sensors, contributing broadly to compliant robot control. His more recent work on shape estimation for soft manipulators using stretchable sensors (2021, 57 citations) reflects a forward-looking pivot toward next-generation soft robotics for surgical use. Collectively, his publications have accumulated over 430 citations, establishing him as a meaningful contributor to intelligent surgical robotics and precision force sensing.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   A Surgical Palpation Probe With 6-Axis Force/Torque Sensing Capability for Minimally Invasive Surgery

   140 citations · 2017
2. 2
   Sensorized Surgical Forceps for Robotic-Assisted Minimally Invasive Surgery

   109 citations · 2018
3. 3
   Shape Estimation of Soft Manipulator Using Stretchable Sensor

   57 citations · 2021
4. 4
   S-Surge: Novel Portable Surgical Robot with Multiaxis Force-Sensing Capability for Minimally Invasive Surgery

   49 citations · 2017
5. 5
   Torque Sensor Embedded Actuator Module for Robotic Applications

   35 citations · 2018
6. 6
   Development of surgical forceps integrated with a multi-axial force sensor for minimally invasive robotic surgery

   17 citations · 2016
7. 7
   A novel capacitive type torque sensor for robotic applications

   12 citations · 2016
8. 8
   A new type of surgical forceps integrated with three-axial force sensor for minimally invasive robotic surgery

   7 citations · 2016
9. 9
   A novel POWERPACK for robotic application, integrated torque sensor, harmonic drive and motor

   3 citations · 2017
10. 10
    Design of a miniature 6-axis force/torque sensor for robotic applications

    3 citations · 2017

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links