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About

Tsung-Yuan Chen is a leading researcher in bioinspired robotics, with a focus on bipedal and quadrupedal locomotion that draws directly from the mechanics of the human foot and animal movement. His work bridges biomechanics and robotics, particularly through the study of the foot’s windlass mechanism—a key structure in the human arch that stores and releases energy during gait. Chen demonstrated that this mechanism can be harnessed to enable bipedal robots to jump higher, a finding that has garnered 22 citations and opened new avenues for dynamic legged locomotion. He has also pioneered the design of a bevel-geared mechanical foot that emulates the subtalar and oblique midtarsal joints of the human foot, generating yaw moments that improve walking stability. In soft robotics, Chen’s investigation into dynamic turning in soft quadruped robots—achieved by simply altering phase differences—has been cited 19 times and highlights his ability to achieve complex behaviors through minimal control. His more recent work includes a robotic foot with a midtarsal joint locking mechanism, further refining the interplay between compliance and stability. With a growing citation record and a clear trajectory toward more agile, energy-efficient robots, Chen is establishing himself as a key figure in the next generation of bioinspired locomotion research.