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About

Xiangping Chen is a pioneering researcher in soft robotics and smart actuator systems, with expertise spanning dielectric elastomers, chemo-mechanical machines, and extreme-environment robotics. Chen's most celebrated contribution is the development of a self-powered soft robot capable of operating in the Mariana Trench — one of the most inhospitable environments on Earth — a landmark achievement that has garnered over 1,100 citations and demonstrated the extraordinary potential of soft robotic systems under crushing deep-sea pressures. This work fundamentally challenged conventional assumptions about where and how robots can function. Beyond deep-sea applications, Chen has made significant contributions to dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs), advancing both their fabrication — notably through 3D-printed thermoplastic frames — and their theoretical modeling, including nonlinear control strategies that address the inherent viscoelastic and electromechanical complexities of these artificial muscle systems. Chen's investigations into pneumatic-hydraulic coupled DEAs and chemo-mechanical energy conversion further reflect a holistic approach to understanding soft active materials from both mechanical and control perspectives. Collectively, this body of work positions Chen as an influential voice in the design and deployment of next-generation soft robotic systems adaptable to extreme and human-compatible environments.