Mengjiao Li

Ocean University of China, North Carolina State University, Wilson College

Papers

Total Citations

159

H-Index

About

Mengjiao Li is a rising star in the field of soft robotics and wearable technology, whose work bridges bio-inspiration, material science, and mechanical design. Her primary research focuses on developing fast-moving, agile soft robots and advanced wearable actuators. Li’s major contributions include the creation of a spiral-shaped soft robot inspired by the Archimedean spiral, which achieves remarkable speed and mobility—a significant leap forward for soft robotics, which traditionally suffers from sluggish movement. She has also pioneered cheetah-inspired piezoelectric robots that mimic the galloping gait of the world’s fastest land animal, enabling high-speed locomotion and flippable motion. Her comprehensive review on wearable actuators (70 citations) has become a key reference in the field, mapping the landscape of devices that can be worn, embedded in fabric, or tattooed onto skin. With over 150 total citations across her most-cited works, Li’s innovative designs—such as bioinspired electrostatic accordion-fold actuators—are pushing the boundaries of what soft robots can achieve, promising transformative applications in search-and-rescue, medical devices, and human augmentation.