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About

Shou-Shan Chiang is a pioneering roboticist whose work is reshaping the frontiers of soft robotics, with a particular focus on bio-inspired locomotion, continuum manipulators, and underwater autonomous systems. His research bridges the gap between theoretical control algorithms and tangible, tetherless robotic platforms. Chiang’s most impactful contribution is his comprehensive review, "Soft Mobile Robots: a Review of Soft Robotic Locomotion Modes" (2021), which has garnered 60 citations and serves as a foundational resource for researchers exploring diverse soft-bodied gaits. He further advanced the field with the development of "SLInKi," a novel State Lattice based Inverse Kinematics solver that provides fast, accurate, and flexible control for soft continuum robot manipulators—a critical tool for navigating constrained environments. Demonstrating his commitment to real-world application, Chiang led the design and testing of a multi-module, tetherless soft robotic eel (2024), achieving free-swimming anguilliform locomotion using 3D-printed wave spring structures. His work on optimizing propulsion force in soft fish tails (2022) and implementing clothoid-based visual servoing for shape control (2023) underscores his holistic approach, combining mechanical design, control theory, and practical testing to push the boundaries of what soft robots can achieve in complex, unstructured environments.