Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Ji Su is a pioneering researcher in the field of electroactive polymers (EAPs) and soft robotics, with a career spanning over two decades. His foundational work on ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMCs) has been instrumental in advancing artificial muscle actuators, particularly through his landmark 1999 paper (27 citations) that identified key challenges in transitioning IPMCs from laboratory prototypes to practical applications. Su's research has significantly contributed to understanding how environmental conditions affect IPMC performance, as demonstrated in his 2023 study (11 citations) on Nafion-Pt composites under nonequilibrium states. Beyond artificial muscles, he has made notable contributions to continuum robotics, developing cable decoupling and stiffening techniques (2022, 6 citations) that enhance the dexterity and stability of flexible robots for unstructured environments. Most recently, Su has pioneered molten embedded writing (2025, 2 citations), a novel additive manufacturing method that enables the production of end-use thermoplastic parts with superior mechanical strength—a breakthrough addressing a critical limitation of conventional 3D printing. His interdisciplinary work bridges materials science, robotics, and manufacturing, with his IPMC research remaining highly influential in the soft robotics community.