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About

Xingcan Xiang is a leading researcher in soft robotics and smart materials, with a primary focus on electroactive polymer (EAP) actuators—often called "artificial muscles"—and their application in bio-inspired robotic systems. His work bridges the critical gap between material science and robotic control, advancing the development of fully compliant, active micro-stages and smart manipulators. Xiang’s major contributions include pioneering electro-mechanical modeling techniques for EAP actuators, enabling their use as precise, active-compliant robotic components. Notably, he developed a simulated feedback control approach using particle swarm optimization to enhance the positioning accuracy of conducting polymer actuators without requiring physical sensors—a breakthrough for miniaturized systems. His most cited work, "Electro-mechanical modelling and identification of electroactive polymer actuators as smart robotic manipulators" (27 citations), provides foundational modeling frameworks for the field. Through his research, Xiang has demonstrated how the type of input function critically affects actuator dynamic response, offering essential insights for control design. His achievements are instrumental in pushing the boundaries of soft robotics, micro-manipulation, and bio-inspired mechatronic devices, making him a key figure in the evolution of smart actuator technologies.