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About

Khoa Dang is a robotics researcher specializing in the design and control of continuum robots for minimally invasive surgery, with a particular focus on colorectal cancer interventions. His work addresses the critical challenge of developing flexible, slender robotic manipulators that can navigate the complex, confined spaces of the human body while providing precise force control and dexterous manipulation. Dang’s most influential contribution, his 2022 paper on estimating forces along continuum robots (33 citations), tackles the fundamental problem of detecting contact force location, direction, and magnitude—essential for safe and effective navigation and tissue manipulation. He has further advanced the field through his work on concentric push-pull robots, including the design of laser-cut transmission tubes that optimize axial and torsional stiffness while maintaining flexibility (2024), and computational analysis of bimanual configurations for polyp removal (2023). His most recent work (2025) proposes a complete system for Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD) using two small, flexible manipulators, aiming to make this challenging but effective cancer removal technique more accessible. Dang’s research directly addresses the underutilization of ESD by developing robotic tools that could simplify the procedure and improve patient outcomes.