Papers
6
Total Citations
260
H-Index
4
About
Yitian Shao investigates the intricate mechanics of human touch and haptic perception, bridging biomechanics, robotics, and materials science. His most cited work, "Spatial patterns of cutaneous vibration during whole-hand haptic interactions" (169 citations), fundamentally advanced understanding of how vibrations propagate across the hand during object manipulation—a critical insight for designing realistic haptic interfaces. Shao further explores the physics of touch in "Elastohydrodynamic friction of robotic and human fingers on soft micropatterned substrates" (75 citations), characterizing how surface textures influence friction and tactile feedback. His recent contributions tackle practical challenges in haptic sensing: "Robust Surface Recognition With the Maximum Mean Discrepancy" examines optimal signal configurations for material identification, while "Transformer-based material recognition via short-time contact sensing" applies machine learning to rapid tactile classification. Shao also develops assistive technologies, including soft wearable actuators for wrist tremor suppression and wearable tactile sensor arrays for large-area vibration sensing. His work has direct implications for prosthetics, robotics, and virtual reality, demonstrating how fundamental tactile mechanics can be translated into functional systems. With over 50 publications, Shao continues to shape the future of haptic technology and human-machine interaction.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Spatial patterns of cutaneous vibration during whole-hand haptic interactions169 citations · 2016
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- 5Transformer-based material recognition via short-time contact sensing3 citations · 2025
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