Yunquan Li
University of Hong Kong, Chengdu University of Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Southwest Petroleum University, South China University of Technology, Wuyi University, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Intelligent Health (United Kingdom), Intelligent Systems Research (United States)
Papers
38
Total Citations
967
H-Index
17
About
Yunquan Li is a pioneering researcher in soft robotics and robotic systems, whose work spans variable-stiffness mechanisms, pneumatic actuation, and bio-inspired robot design. His contributions have fundamentally advanced the field's ability to overcome core limitations in soft robotics, particularly around compliance control, sensory feedback, and untethered mobility. Li's most celebrated work, "Novel Variable-Stiffness Robotic Fingers with Built-In Position Feedback" (2017, 131 citations), addressed a critical bottleneck in soft robotics by simultaneously enabling controllable compliance and position feedback — capabilities previously difficult to integrate. His subsequent development of precharged pneumatic actuators (2018, 105 citations) offered an innovative pathway toward untethered soft robots, liberating designs from bulky external pumps. Further expanding his grasping research, Li introduced particle jamming-based solutions, including adaptive variable-stiffness phalanges (2020, 102 citations) and distributed soft grippers, significantly improving robustness and durability. Beyond grasping, Li has explored proprioceptive sensing, tendon-driven self-pumping actuators, dual-mode actuation systems, and bio-inspired quadrupedal locomotion — including an impressive amphibious dog-paddling robot. With over 660 cumulative citations across his most impactful papers, Li's work consistently bridges theoretical innovation and real-world robotic application, making him a significant voice in next-generation soft robotics research.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Novel Variable-Stiffness Robotic Fingers with Built-In Position Feedback131 citations · 2017
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- 4Soft Robotic Grippers Based on Particle Transmission70 citations · 2019
- 5
- 6A Novel Tendon-Driven Soft Actuator with Self-Pumping Property54 citations · 2019
- 7Bio-inspired robotic dog paddling: kinematic and hydro-dynamic analysis40 citations · 2019
- 8Distributed design of passive particle jamming based soft grippers34 citations · 2018
- 9
- 10A Dual-Mode Actuator for Soft Robotic Hand30 citations · 2021