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About

Zufeng Shang is a rising innovator in soft robotics and deployable structures, with a focused expertise in braided mechanisms for variable stiffness and adaptive manipulation. His research centers on developing flexible, textile-based systems that can transition between compliant and rigid states, enabling novel applications in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and robotic gripping. Shang’s most cited work, “A foldable manipulator with tunable stiffness based on braided structure” (2019, 10 citations), introduces a long, deployable manipulator designed to navigate tortuous human orifices for surgical tool support, addressing a critical challenge in MIS. He further advances this concept in “Self-Forcing Mechanism of the Braided Tube as a Robotic Gripper” (2019, 7 citations), where he demonstrates a self-forcing holding mechanism that enhances grip without external power. His recent exploration into “Flexible furniture structure based on braiding technology and fiber jamming” (2023, 4 citations) extends his principles to adaptive furniture, showcasing the versatility of his approach. With contributions that bridge soft robotics, composites, and practical design, Shang is shaping the future of safe, adaptable robotic systems.