Jihun Park

Hongik University, The University of Texas at Austin

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Jihun Park is a pioneering researcher in computer animation and robotics, best known for his foundational work in physics-based simulation and redundant manipulator control. His 1997 paper, "Forward dynamics based realistic animation of rigid bodies" (12 citations), laid early groundwork for generating physically plausible motion in virtual environments, a cornerstone of modern computer graphics. Park’s most influential contribution, however, is his innovative approach to path planning for highly redundant manipulators, detailed in his 2002 paper "Toward planning and control of highly redundant manipulators" (10 citations). In this work, he introduced the concept of a continuous curvature model—an idealized manipulator with infinite degrees of freedom controlled by altering its curvature. This elegant framework provided a novel solution to the complex problem of planning smooth, collision-free paths for hyper-redundant robotic systems, inspiring subsequent research in both animation and robotics. Though his citation counts are modest, Park’s ideas have proven conceptually significant, bridging the gap between theoretical kinematics and practical simulation. His contributions remain relevant for students and researchers exploring the intersection of computer graphics, dynamics, and robotic control.