Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Guoyong Mao is a pioneering researcher at the forefront of soft robotics, smart materials, and bioinspired engineering. His work spans the development of ultrafast soft actuators, degradable biogels, and constitutive models for elastomers, placing him among the most innovative minds in his field. Mao's landmark 2021 contribution, "Self-powered soft robot in the Mariana Trench," garnered over 1,100 citations, demonstrating the remarkable real-world applicability of soft robotic systems in one of Earth's most extreme environments. His 2020 work on resilient, fully degradable gelatin-based biogels has attracted over 500 citations, highlighting his commitment to sustainable, biocompatible materials for next-generation electronics and robotics. Drawing inspiration from nature — from Venus flytraps to agile insects — Mao has consistently pushed boundaries in designing small-scale, untethered robots capable of high-speed locomotion and resilient performance. His more recent explorations into 4D-printed liquid crystal elastomers and edible starch hydrogels signal a forward-thinking trajectory toward programmable, environmentally responsible robotic systems. With a cumulative citation record exceeding 2,400, Mao's research continues to shape both the theoretical foundations and practical frontiers of soft robotics.