Chengtao Xu

State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering

Papers

Total Citations

109

H-Index

About

Chengtao Xu is a rising leader in soft robotics and advanced functional materials, whose work bridges the gap between embodied intelligence and deformable electronics. His research centers on liquid metal-based soft actuators, shape-programmable fibers, and perceptive soft systems that enable robots to sense and interact with their environment without complex external sensors. Xu’s most impactful contribution is the development of magnetically printed liquid metal soft actuators with embodied intelligence, a breakthrough that integrates sensing and actuation directly into soft materials—eliminating the need for discrete, coupled components. This work, published in 2021 and garnering 95 citations, has been widely recognized for its potential to create autonomous, perceptive soft robots. He has also pioneered shape-programmable liquid metal fibers (2022), which combine high conductivity, stretchability, and self-healing capabilities, laying the foundation for intelligent textiles and imperceptible wearable electronics. With his innovative approach to material design and system integration, Xu is shaping the future of soft robotics and smart textiles, offering scalable solutions for human–machine interaction and adaptive autonomous systems.