Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Paul Kim is a pioneer in the emerging field of bio-hybrid microrobotics, where living microorganisms are engineered as controllable, microscale robots. His research centers on the motion control and feedback regulation of single-celled organisms, particularly the ciliate *Tetrahymena pyriformis*. Kim’s major contributions lie in developing sophisticated control strategies—including model predictive control (MPC) and exploitation of phase inhomogeneity—to steer these magnetized cells with precision. His most cited work (2013, 30 citations) demonstrates how to overcome the fundamental challenge of controlling many biological robots simultaneously using uniform magnetic inputs, a breakthrough for scalable microrobotic swarms. His follow-up study (2012, 15 citations) established the MPC framework for artificial magnetotaxis, enabling reliable trajectory tracking. By transforming live microbial cells into easy-to-produce, self-fueling microrobots, Kim’s work bridges control theory, microbiology, and robotics. His achievements open doors to applications in targeted drug delivery, environmental sensing, and micro-assembly, positioning him as a leading innovator in harnessing nature’s smallest swimmers for engineered tasks.