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About

Steven Yee is a pioneering researcher in microrobotics and diamagnetic levitation, whose work bridges optical control and autonomous manipulation at the microscale and milliscale. His key research areas include visual servo control for microrobotic manipulation, photothermal actuation of levitated systems, and optically powered milli-scale robotics for fluid delivery. Yee’s major contributions include developing a visual servo control method that enables autonomous microrobotic manipulation of polymer beads on fluid interfaces using magnetic fields—a foundational advance for precision assembly and biomedical applications. He also elucidated the mechanisms behind photothermal translation of diamagnetically levitated pyrolytic graphite (PyG), revising prior models to explain how localized heating from optical irradiation alters magnetic susceptibility, enabling frictionless, optically controlled milli-robots. His most cited work, “Autonomous Microrobotic Manipulation Using Visual Servo Control” (13 citations), and subsequent studies on optically absorbent coatings and nanoliter fluid delivery demonstrate his impact in advancing contactless, low-power robotic systems. Yee’s research has garnered over 36 citations, with notable achievements including the demonstration of parallel optical control and the integration of projector technology for scalable, multi-robot coordination. His work holds promise for applications in lab-on-a-chip, drug delivery, and precision manufacturing.