Jacqueline Lo

Papers

Total Citations

119

H-Index

About

Jacqueline Lo is a pioneering roboticist whose work redefines the boundaries of small-scale and underwater robotics. Her primary research areas include soft robotics, bio-inspired actuation, and multifunctional energy systems for autonomous machines. Lo’s most impactful contribution is her development of powerful, soft combustion actuators for insect-scale robots, a breakthrough that addresses the long-standing challenge of generating high force and endurance at tiny scales. This work, published in 2023 and garnering 110 citations, demonstrates how combustion-driven actuators can mimic the extraordinary strength of insects, enabling microrobots to perform tasks previously impossible with conventional microactuators. In her more recent 2024 study, Lo introduces a novel concept: the multifunctional use of an aqueous battery as both a power source and a structural component for a high-capacity jellyfish robot. By leveraging the liquid medium of the battery, she eliminates the need for separate energy storage, drastically reducing robot size and increasing operational endurance. This innovative approach, though early in its citation impact, signals a paradigm shift in designing untethered underwater vehicles. Lo’s work is notable for its elegant fusion of materials science and robotics, offering scalable solutions that push the limits of autonomy and miniaturization. Her achievements inspire a new generation of researchers to rethink how robots store energy and generate motion.