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About

Yoel Shapiro is a leading figure in soft robotics and medical robotics, whose work bridges the gap between hyper-flexible structures and practical surgical tools. His research focuses on the modeling, sensing, and control of compliant actuators and structures, with a particular emphasis on enabling safe human-robot interaction and advancing biomimetic systems. Shapiro’s major contributions include pioneering methods for shape tracking of planar hyper-flexible beams using embedded PVDF deflection sensors (72 citations) and developing a predictive kinematic model for hyperflexible bending actuators based on an inextensible Euler–Bernoulli beam approach (45 citations). These models, which incorporate material hysteresis, allow for accurate control of actuators capable of bending up to 180°, a critical capability for soft robotic applications. In the medical domain, Shapiro has explored the integration of haptic capabilities into bone-mounted robots for intra-operative surface scanning, aiming to improve registration accuracy in orthopedic surgery. His work is widely cited and has laid foundational knowledge for the design and control of next-generation flexible robots, impacting fields from defense to biotechnology.