Kunihiko Kobayashi

Papers

Total Citations

306

H-Index

About

Kunihiko Kobayashi is a pioneer in the field of soft robotics and bioinspired materials, specializing in the design of stimuli-responsive, untethered structures that mimic natural forms. His research focuses on creating millimeter-scale devices capable of autonomous shape change, with major contributions in 4D printing and biodegradable soft grippers. Kobayashi’s 2019 work on “Dual-Gel 4D Printing of Bioinspired Tubes” (151 citations) introduced a method to program periodic material patterns—inspired by radial and bilateral symmetry in nature—to fabricate tubular structures for bioimplants and soft robots. In 2018, his study on “Biodegradable Thermomagnetically Responsive Soft Untethered Grippers” (106 citations) advanced minimally invasive surgery and drug delivery by developing polymeric microgrippers that can manipulate fragile biological cargo in hard-to-reach conduits. His 2017 paper on “Multitemperature Responsive Self‐Folding Soft Biomimetic Structures” (49 citations) further demonstrated how temperature cues can trigger actuation in physiological conditions. Kobayashi’s work has been widely cited for its innovative integration of material science and robotics, earning recognition for its potential to transform biomedical engineering and autonomous device design.