Papers
16
Total Citations
1,468
H-Index
9
About
Fanghao Zhou is a pioneering robotics researcher whose work sits at the intersection of soft robotics, electroactive materials, and deep-sea exploration. Best known for the landmark 2021 paper "Self-powered soft robot in the Mariana Trench" — one of the most celebrated achievements in soft robotics with over 1,100 citations — Zhou helped demonstrate that bioinspired soft machines can operate under extreme hydrostatic pressures at depths exceeding 11,000 meters. This breakthrough fundamentally expanded our understanding of where soft robots can function. Zhou's broader research portfolio showcases deep expertise in dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs), developing innovative approaches to achieve anisotropic, low-voltage actuation and multilayer bending structures that bring artificial muscles closer to practical deployment. His work on 3D-printed thermoplastic frames, jelly-like underwater muscles, and shape memory alloy-based deep-sea robots reflects a consistent drive to bridge advanced materials science with real-world robotic systems. Beyond individual machines, Zhou has also contributed to swarm robotics, demonstrating vision-based formation control of soft robotic fish. With a growing body of work spanning continuum robots and pressure-resilient elastomers, Zhou represents a leading voice in next-generation soft robotics for extreme environments.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Self-powered soft robot in the Mariana Trench1,134 citations · 2021
- 2
- 3Anisotropic electroactive elastomer for highly maneuverable soft robotics68 citations · 2020
- 4Global Vision-Based Formation Control of Soft Robotic Fish Swarm51 citations · 2020
- 5Self-powered soft robot in the Mariana Trench29 citations · 2022
- 6
- 7A jelly-like artificial muscle for an untethered underwater robot26 citations · 2024
- 8
- 9
- 10