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About

Sanaz Bazaz Behbahani is a robotics researcher whose work sits at the intersection of bio-inspired engineering, underwater robotics, and smart materials. Her research focuses primarily on the design and dynamic modeling of robotic fish, with particular emphasis on pectoral fin mechanics, flexible joint systems, and adaptive stiffness control. Drawing inspiration from how real fish navigate aquatic environments, Behbahani has made significant contributions to understanding and replicating the nuanced biomechanics that enable efficient underwater locomotion. Among her most influential contributions is her pioneering work on flexible passive rowing joints for robotic fish pectoral fins, which has accumulated 88 citations and fundamentally advanced how engineers approach fin actuation by eliminating the need for differential actuation speeds. Her investigations into electrorheological fluid-based variable-stiffness fins—cited 63 times—opened new pathways for creating adaptable underwater robots capable of optimizing performance across varying swimming conditions. Her 2016 work on bio-inspired flexible joints with passive feathering further demonstrated how passive mechanical design can elegantly mimic complex biological motion. With a body of work spanning dynamic modeling, prototyping, and experimental validation, Behbahani has established herself as a leading voice in biomimetic underwater robotics, contributing foundational knowledge that continues to inform next-generation aquatic robotic systems.