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About

Kinwing Mak is a leading researcher in bioinspired robotics, specializing in gecko-inspired adhesives and visuotactile sensing for advanced robotic grippers. His work bridges the gap between biological adhesion mechanisms and practical robotic manipulation, with a focus on creating adaptive, sensor-rich gripping systems. Mak’s most notable contribution is the development of the Viko series—adaptive gecko grippers integrated with vision-based tactile sensors. The original Viko (2021, 23 citations) introduced a novel approach to monitoring contact states in gecko-inspired adhesives, addressing a critical lack of deformable sensors in the field. This was followed by Viko 2.0 (2022, 16 citations), which enhanced performance through a hierarchical adhesive design, enabling grippers to partially encompass large objects with sufficient grip force. Beyond gripper design, Mak has advanced scalable fabrication techniques, as demonstrated in his work on roll-to-roll slitting for controllable dry adhesives (2022, 5 citations), reducing cost and complexity. His research has significant implications for industrial automation, space exploration, and soft robotics, where reliable, sensor-rich gripping is essential. With a growing citation record, Mak is establishing himself as a key innovator in bioinspired robotics and tactile sensing.