Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

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.