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About

Yannan Xie is a leading researcher in the field of flexible tactile sensing and soft robotics, with a focus on developing high-resolution, durable sensor systems and advanced actuator materials. Their major contributions include pioneering the design and fabrication of a three-axis capacitive tactile imager system based on floating comb electrodes, which enables precise measurement of both normal and shear stresses—critical for applications in robotic grippers and gait analysis. This work, published in 2013, has garnered 43 citations, reflecting its influence on tactile sensing technology. Xie also addressed a key durability challenge in flexible imagers by introducing floating electrodes to prevent metallization layer failure, a contribution that has been cited 12 times. More recently, in 2025, Xie proposed an innovative approach to bimorph soft actuators using isostructural heterogeneous Janus films, overcoming structural incompatibility issues to enhance actuator longevity and performance, with 7 citations to date. Their research bridges materials science and robotics, offering practical solutions for next-generation haptic interfaces and soft robotic systems.