Hao Pei

Harvard University, East China Normal University

Papers

Total Citations

464

H-Index

About

Hao Pei is a leading researcher at the intersection of soft robotics and intelligent materials, whose work is redefining how machines interact with the human body and their environment. His foundational contribution, the "Wearable soft sensing suit for human gait measurement" (2014, 413 citations), pioneered the use of soft, unobtrusive sensors for precise motion tracking, directly enabling the next generation of wearable robots that augment human mobility without restricting natural movement. This work established a critical sensing paradigm for soft robotics. More recently, Pei has pushed the boundaries of material intelligence by integrating DNA-based chemical reaction circuits with stimuli-responsive soft matter. His 2021 paper on "Multi‐Mode Reconfigurable DNA‐Based Chemical Reaction Circuits for Soft Matter Computing and Control" introduces a revolutionary approach where programmable molecular networks direct the shape and behavior of microgels. This breakthrough in soft matter computing allows materials to autonomously sense and adapt, paving the way for autonomous drug delivery systems and adaptive actuators. By merging molecular programming with soft robotics, Pei is creating a new class of "smart" materials that blur the line between machine and matter.