Hualin Zhang

Universität Hamburg, Southern University of Science and Technology

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Hualin Zhang is a pioneering researcher in modular robotics and human-robot interaction, with a focus on bio-inspired locomotion and affective robotics. His early work addresses fundamental challenges in redundant driving and internal force compensation for wall-climbing caterpillar robots, introducing a joint torque control method that assumes a single active joint in four-link mechanisms—a contribution that has garnered 9 citations. Zhang further advanced the field by developing two caterpillar robot prototypes inspired by inchworms and pine caterpillars, demonstrating crawling locomotion with changing kinematic chains and open-chain architectures, earning 6 citations. More recently, Zhang has expanded into affective robotics, experimentally studying embodiment forms—agents versus avatars—and interaction modes in robots designed for anxiety relief and emotional connection. His 2025 work, already cited 3 times, explores how different robotic forms elicit attachment and intimacy, offering insights into psychological responses and emotional well-being. With a career spanning mechanical design, control systems, and human-robot emotional engagement, Zhang’s research bridges engineering precision and psychological impact, making him a notable figure in both robotic locomotion and socially assistive technology.