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About

Buyi Zhang is a pioneering researcher in the field of miniature robotics, with a particular focus on elastic vibratory milli-robots and their locomotion dynamics. His work centers on the design, analysis, and control of small-scale legged robots, where he has made significant contributions to understanding how structural properties and piezoelectric materials can be harnessed for efficient and adaptive movement. Zhang’s most cited paper, "Design and analysis of varied gaits in elastic vibratory milli-robots" (2018), has garnered 16 citations, establishing a foundational framework for generating diverse locomotion patterns in these tiny machines. In his experimental work, he demonstrated the innovative use of piezoelectric self-sensing for terrestrial locomotion, allowing a 30 mm-wide robot to monitor its own movement without additional sensors. Zhang also explored the potential of structural non-uniformity—often seen as a fabrication flaw—as a passive steering mechanism, turning a limitation into a design advantage. With a total of 23 citations across his key works, Zhang’s research is shaping the future of autonomous, energy-efficient micro-robots for applications in exploration, inspection, and biomedical devices.