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About

Yilong Chang is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of soft robotics and advanced materials, with a primary focus on liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) and their applications in biomedical and robotic systems. His most impactful contribution is the development of a liquid crystal elastomer–liquid metal composite that enables ultrafast, untethered, and programmable actuation through induction heating. This breakthrough, published in 2023 and already garnering over 100 citations, addresses a critical limitation of LCEs—slow response times—by integrating liquid metal for efficient wireless heating, opening new possibilities for artificial muscles, shape-morphing structures, and soft robotics. Chang’s work also extends to endovascular surgery, where he has designed a magnetic milli-spinner for robotic navigation through complex vasculature, a novel approach that could overcome the steerability and force transmission challenges of conventional catheters. His research is notable for its interdisciplinary impact, merging materials science, mechanical engineering, and medical device innovation. With his high-citation paper and emerging contributions to surgical robotics, Chang is establishing himself as a key figure in the next generation of soft, responsive, and remotely controlled systems.