Sungmin An

Papers

Total Citations

460

H-Index

About

Sungmin An is a pioneering researcher in bio-inspired robotics, with a focus on miniaturized actuation and locomotion systems. His work draws inspiration from nature’s most efficient movers, translating biological principles into engineering breakthroughs. An’s most significant contribution is the development of a flea-inspired catapult mechanism for miniature jumping robots, detailed in his highly cited 2012 paper (272 citations). This work demonstrated how torque reversal triggering could release stored elastic energy to achieve jumps over 200 times the robot’s body length, setting a benchmark for small-scale jumping performance. He has also advanced the practical application of smart materials, notably through a design framework for shape memory alloy (SMA) coil spring actuators (170 citations), providing engineers with a static two-state model to optimize force and stroke. An’s research extends to climbing robots, where he developed a finger-sized, inchworm-inspired robot using spine-based grippers and an omega-shaped bending motion. With over 460 combined citations for his top works, An has established himself as a key figure in bio-robotics, offering foundational insights for students and researchers interested in micro-robotics, energy storage mechanisms, and biomimetic design.