Samson Phan

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Samson Phan is a robotics researcher whose work focuses on the critical intersection of human-robot interaction and safety. His primary research areas include capacitive sensing technologies and the mechanical dynamics of human-friendly robots, particularly those using artificial pneumatic muscles. Phan’s most influential contribution is his pioneering work on capacitive skin sensors for robot impact monitoring, which has garnered 36 citations. This research demonstrated a novel approach to collision detection that not only reduces impact forces but also enables robots to characterize collision events in real time—a crucial advancement for robots operating in human-occupied workspaces. His related work on instantaneous stiffness effects further explores how joint stiffness, especially in pneumatic muscle systems, influences both safety and control performance. While his paper on stiffness effects has fewer citations, it addresses a fundamental challenge in the field: the limited control bandwidth of pneumatic muscles and its implications for frequency-domain safety analysis. Phan’s research has helped lay the groundwork for safer, more responsive robots that can work alongside humans without compromising performance or protection.