Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Minh Tran is a leading researcher in biomechatronics and assistive robotics, specializing in the design of lightweight, efficient prosthetic and exoskeletal systems for individuals with lower-limb impairments. His work centers on replicating natural human biomechanics through innovative mechanical design and control strategies. Tran’s most impactful contribution is a lightweight robotic leg prosthesis that mimics the knee, ankle, and toe joints, accumulating 138 citations for its potential to dramatically improve mobility and quality of life for amputees. He further advanced the field with a fully powered knee prosthesis featuring an actively variable transmission (98 citations), addressing the limitations of passive devices in generating necessary power for ambulation. Tran also developed an admittance shaping-based controller for a robotic hip exoskeleton (94 citations), enabling normative mobility for those with hip muscle weakness. His portfolio includes a compact, powered polycentric ankle-foot prosthesis (66 citations) and the NREL-Exo, a 4-degree-of-freedom hip exoskeleton for walking and balance assistance (31 citations). Recently, Tran has explored torque-sensitive actuators for human-like performance (6 citations), underscoring his commitment to creating practical, high-performance assistive technologies.