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About

Hsing-Yu Chen is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of soft robotics, human-machine interaction, and sustainable materials. Their work addresses fundamental challenges in creating more functional, trustworthy, and environmentally responsible robotic systems. Chen’s most impactful contribution is the "B:Ionic Glove" (42 citations), a soft smart wearable that provides affective sensory feedback for upper limb prosthetic users—directly tackling the high rejection rates of robotic prostheses by reducing phantom limb pain and improving user control. In soft robotics control, Chen developed the "RUBIC" system for untethered discrete path following and advanced the field’s computational capabilities through liquid metal logic for soft matter computers. A hallmark of Chen’s career is their commitment to sustainability, exemplified by "ReRobot," which pioneers the use of recycled materials for trustworthy soft robots, and "GelBat," an edible, biodegradable gelatin-based battery. Chen has also engineered stiffness-graded electroactive artificial muscles that mimic the efficient hard-soft interfaces found in biology. With a growing body of highly cited work, Chen is recognized as a leader in creating soft robotic technologies that are not only more capable and intuitive but also ethically and environmentally sustainable.