Zhongwen Yi

China University of Mining and Technology

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Zhongwen Yi is a rising innovator in soft robotics, specializing in the design, modelling, and control of continuum robots. His research focuses on merging bio-inspired kinematics with novel structural mechanics to create highly adaptable, flexible machines. Yi’s most notable contribution is the development of a multimodal continuum robot (MCR) that leverages the three stable state characteristics of Kresling origami. This groundbreaking design, detailed in his 2024 paper (4 citations), uses gas-driven actuation and elastic deformation of the origami structure, assisted by airbags, to achieve complex, multimodal movement without rigid joints. Building on this, his 2025 work on "Kinematic modelling and closed-loop control of a novel soft continuum robot" (18 citations) provides the foundational control framework for these systems, enabling precise, reliable performance. By integrating origami-inspired stability with advanced control theory, Yi is pushing the boundaries of what soft robots can accomplish in constrained or delicate environments. His work is already influencing the next generation of surgical tools and search-and-rescue devices, marking him as a key figure to watch in the field of continuum robotics.