Research

My research centers on insect-scale bio-inspired robots with a two-fold role. First, as “robotics for biology,” they act as experimental tools to explore the small-scale fluid mechanics that real insects may exploit. Second, as “robotics for engineering,” they serve as early platforms toward environmental/ecological sensing in the field.

Ground effect test for insect-scale interfacial flapping flight

We use the flapping platform to probe a biological behavior question: why do waterlily beetles fly so close to the water surface? One hypothesis is the beetles can get aerodynamic benefits (from the interaction of the shed vortex and the surface), similar to the "ground effect" of the fixed wing airplanes. Quantitative experiments indicate that near-surface flapping produces additional acceleration.
ⓘ For more info, please inquire my PI Dr. EF Helbling

Independent research. (Manuscript coming in 2026, 1st author).

(Left) Experimental setup using a flapping wing robot;
(Right) The interfacial flight of waterlily beetle, from Mukundarajan, et al., J.E.B., 2016.

GammaBot: An agile surface-skimming robot

GammaBot is a surface-skimming robot inspired by water striders, leveraging surface tension to stay afloat and small wings for propulsion ("gamma" for surface tension coefficient). Weighs < 1 g. Achieved nimble, trajectory-tracking maneuvers in the wild. Our flyer's flyer.
ⓘ For more info, please inquire my PI Dr. EF Helbling

I led the robot structural design and optimization. (Journal in submission, 3rd author).

GammaBot in the wild.

Bending actuator for bio-inspired swimmer

Actuator is critical to robot performance. I explored the bending mode of the rolled dielectric elastomer actuators (rolled-DEAs), a promising artificial muscle for robotic insect. This novel mode greatly decrease the resonance, while amplified the stroke of the rolled-DEAs, both make it suitable for bio-inspired swimming robots with flapping fins. Electric model.

A soft aquatic robot prototype based on it reached a high speed of 1.36 body length per second. IROS 2023 Paper.

(Up) The bending in response to stepping voltage;
(Below) The current under stepping voltage.