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About

Yong Bum Kim is a prominent robotics engineer and researcher whose work sits at the intersection of force/torque sensing, surgical robotics, and advanced robotic systems. Best known for his groundbreaking contributions to multi-axis force and torque sensing technology, Kim has developed innovative capacitive sensor designs that are self-contained, rugged, and cost-effective — qualities essential for real-world robotic deployment. His highly cited 2016 and 2017 papers on six-axis force/torque sensors (137 and 140 citations, respectively) established foundational frameworks now widely referenced across robotics and medical device research communities. A significant portion of Kim's research focuses on robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery (RMIS), where he has pioneered sensorized surgical tools — including palpation probes, surgical forceps, and portable robotic platforms — that restore tactile feedback to surgeons operating in constrained environments. His 2018 work on sensorized forceps with five-DOF sensing capability (109 citations) represents a notable milestone in haptic-enabled surgical robotics. Beyond surgical applications, Kim has expanded his expertise into soft robotics, quadrupedal locomotion systems, and torque-controllable modular actuators, demonstrating a broad and adaptable research vision. With a cumulative citation record exceeding 660 across his top works, Kim's contributions are shaping the future of intelligent, force-aware robotic systems.