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About

Hongying Zhang is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of soft robotics, computational design, and bio-inspired engineering. Best known for her groundbreaking work on topology optimization applied to soft robotic systems, Zhang has fundamentally advanced how soft robots are designed and fabricated — moving beyond intuition-driven approaches toward systematic, automated frameworks. Her 2018 papers on topology-optimized soft grippers and multimaterial soft fingers (144 and 134 citations respectively) established influential methodologies for creating compliant robotic hands capable of handling unknown objects, with direct applications in rehabilitation, prosthetics, and industrial automation. Beyond grippers, Zhang has made significant contributions to soft sensing, developing multi-axis dielectric elastomer sensors suited to the demanding requirements of soft robotic platforms. Her more recent investigations into origami mechanics — including generalized models of folding joints and origami-based biomedical robots — reflect a broadening research vision that embraces reconfigurability and compactness. Her work on bistable structures and multimodal pipe-climbing robots further demonstrates her ability to translate fundamental mechanical principles into versatile robotic solutions. With over 600 cumulative citations across a decade of work, Zhang's research continues to shape the theoretical and practical foundations of next-generation soft and compliant robotic systems.