Xingyan Mao

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Xingyan Mao is a leading researcher in agricultural robotics, with a primary focus on developing soft robotic systems for precision harvesting. Her most-cited work, "Soft manipulator robot for selective tomato harvesting" (2019), addresses the critical challenge of automating the labor-intensive picking of delicate fruits, a process that accounts for over 50% of production costs. In this seminal paper, Mao introduced a novel soft manipulator designed specifically for tomato picking, tailored to the needs of producers in the Shanghai region. By leveraging compliant materials and gentle grasping mechanisms, her robot minimizes damage to soft produce, offering a viable alternative to traditional rigid grippers. With 19 citations, this work has laid the foundation for more humane and efficient automated harvesting systems. Mao’s contributions are particularly notable for bridging the gap between soft robotics and agriculture, demonstrating how bio-inspired design can solve real-world problems in food production. Her research continues to influence the development of adaptive, gentle robotic hands for handling fragile crops, making her a key figure in the future of sustainable farming technology.