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About

Won-Bum Lee is a robotics engineer and researcher whose work centers on mechanical design for collaborative and industrial robots, with a particular emphasis on counterbalance mechanisms and human-robot safety. His most significant contributions lie in developing spring-based gravitational compensation systems that reduce the burden on motors and speed reducers in multi-degree-of-freedom robot arms — a challenge that directly affects manufacturing cost, energy efficiency, and safety in human-robot shared workspaces. Lee's most cited work, "Design of a 6-DOF Collaborative Robot Arm with Counterbalance Mechanisms" (2017, 21 citations), exemplifies his central research philosophy: achieving high performance without relying on high-power actuators. His 2016 study on passive counterbalance mechanisms for industrial robots (18 citations) and his 2021 work extending this approach to mobile robot arms (17 citations) demonstrate a consistent and evolving research trajectory. Notably, Lee has broadened his scope beyond revolute joints, addressing prismatic joints for patient transport robots and wall-mounted configurations, showcasing versatility across real-world applications. His development of reactive joint torque sensors further reflects his commitment to practical robot safety. With a growing body of work spanning over seven years, Lee is establishing himself as a focused innovator in energy-efficient, human-safe robotic design.