Hongping Zhao

Papers

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About

Hongping Zhao is a pioneering researcher in the field of fluid dynamics and soft robotics, with a focus on harnessing cavitation—the formation and collapse of vapor bubbles in liquids—for innovative actuation. Her most-cited work, "Launching by cavitation" (2025, 46 citations), introduces a paradigm-shifting approach that transforms cavitation from a destructive phenomenon into a controlled energy source. By suppressing the immediate release of energy in superheated liquids, Zhao demonstrates how cavitation can be precisely triggered to power actuators and robots, enabling rapid, high-force movements without traditional mechanical components. This breakthrough has significant implications for micro-robotics, biomedical devices, and soft robotics, where compact, efficient actuation is critical. Zhao’s contributions are notable for bridging fundamental physics with practical engineering, offering a novel method to accumulate and release energy on demand. Her work has already garnered attention for its potential to revolutionize how we design small-scale, agile robots, and she continues to explore the limits of cavitation-based systems in dynamic environments.