Papers
6
Total Citations
552
H-Index
5
About
Ho-Young Kim is a researcher whose work sits at the compelling intersection of bio-inspired robotics, fluid mechanics, and animal locomotion. His research has made significant strides in understanding how semi-aquatic and aerial creatures navigate physical boundaries — whether leaping across water surfaces or hovering through air — and translating those principles into functional robotic systems. Kim's most celebrated contribution is his landmark 2015 study on water-surface jumping, which garnered 418 citations and demonstrated how surface tension-dominated dynamics enable water striders to leap with extraordinary efficiency. By decoding the hydrodynamics involved, his team engineered a bio-inspired jumping robot that faithfully replicates this remarkable feat. This work built upon his earlier 2008 foundational research into small-scale water-jumping robots, extending the science from horizontal skating to true vertical propulsion. Beyond aquatic locomotion, Kim has investigated the jumping dynamics of aquatic animals more broadly, establishing a unified physical framework for out-of-water jumping phenomena. His research extends into aerial bio-mechanics, examining flapping-wing aerodynamics — including wake interactions, deviating motion effects, and flight stability in robotic fliers. Across these domains, Kim's research consistently bridges rigorous fluid dynamics with elegant biomimetic engineering, making him a notable figure for students interested in robotics, zoology-inspired design, and locomotion science.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2Towards a biologically inspired small-scale water jumping robot53 citations · 2008
- 3Jumping dynamics of aquatic animals40 citations · 2019
- 4Interactions of the wakes of two flapping wings in hover27 citations · 2019
- 5Aerodynamic effects of deviating motion of flapping wings in hovering flight11 citations · 2019
- 6Control of tailed flapping-wing flying robot3 citations · 2013