Na Tian

Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute

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About

Na Tian is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of bio-inspired robotics and soft matter engineering, with a primary focus on developing high-performance aquatic soft robots. Her most significant contributions center on the design and fabrication of transparent, fast-swimming soft robots inspired by the *Ocyropsis*—a genus of comb jelly. In her landmark 2025 paper in *Advanced Functional Materials*, Tian introduced a novel robot that synergistically combines an electro-hydraulic actuation principle with the *Ocyropsis*’s unique propulsion mechanism. This work represents a major breakthrough by simultaneously solving two critical challenges in underwater robotics: achieving rapid, efficient locomotion and maintaining optical transparency for stealth and camouflage. The robot’s bio-inspired design allows it to navigate unstructured ocean environments with the agility of its natural counterpart, while its transparent body enables safe biological interaction. Though early in its citation history, this foundational work has already garnered 16 citations, signaling strong interest from the soft robotics and marine engineering communities. Tian’s research is not merely an academic exercise; it lays the groundwork for a new generation of environmentally adaptive, minimally invasive underwater vehicles with profound implications for ocean exploration, environmental monitoring, and biological research.