I am a PhD candidate at Cornell University working with Dr. Cindy Kao. My research centers on robotic textiles, thriving at the intersection of soft robotics and human-computer interaction (HCI).
I emphasize actuation and responsive systems within robotic textiles, which are made achievable by integrating anisotropic knit structures, actuators, and functional filaments. My overarching objective is to examine the impact of robotic textiles on psychophysical and physiological responses while addressing human variability, ultimately bridging the burgeoning field of robotic textiles with human-centered applications.
My research is characterized by the development of 3D knit structures, variable stiffness filaments, and actuators to create wearable devices. These devices include locomotive robots, tactile systems without traditional end effectors, and active compression devices for edema patients.
My work has been published at robotics and HCI venues, such as IEEE IROS, CHI, and DIS, with Best Paper Honorable Mention awards. My work has also been featured in the Daily Mail, New Atlas, Trend Hunter, Hackster.io, and the Cornell Chronicle, culminating in my selection as an EECS Rising Star 2023.
Recent News
Research Projects
KnitDema: Robotic Textile as Personalized Edema Mobilization Device
ACM CHI ’23
Jin Hee (Heather) Kim, Joan Stilling, Michael O’Dell, Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao
This project presents a case for how portable textile-based devices integrated with actuators can serve as affordable and equitable therapeutic tools. Customized for individual patients suffering from hand edema, these portable devices address various degrees of swelling and hand shapes. User studies with patients reveal the potential feasibility of these devices as supportive tools in physical therapy.
Robotic Barrier Construction through Weaved, Inflatable Tubes
IEEE IROS ’23
Heather Jin Hee Kim*, Haron Abdel-Raziq*, Xinyu Liu, Alexandra Young Siskovic, Shreyas Patil, Kirstin H. Petersen, and Hsin-Liu (Cindy) Kao
Building upon vine robots, this project introduces a steering mechanism and a related path-planning algorithm for constructing light-duty barriers using extruded, inflated tubes woven around existing environmental features. Characterization informs the accuracy, resilience, and ability of the tubes to withstand distributed loads, to utilize them as barriers. Furthermore, this work introduces an algorithm that, given a feature map and the size and direction of the external load, can determine where and how to extrude the barrier.
KnitSkin: Machine-Knitted Scaled Skin for Locomotion
ACM CHI ’22
Jin-Hee (Heather) Kim, Shreyas Patil, Sarina Matson, Melissa Conroy, Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao
Performing locomotion on an unstructured human body poses challenges for rigid robots. This project introduces a locomotion mechanism utilizing a fabric substrate with anisotropic friction integrated with compliant pneumatic actuators, enabling the traversal of curved, inclined, and textured cylindrical terrains, without a control system.
KnitDermis: Fabricating Tactile On-Body Interfaces Through Machine Knitting
ACM DIS ’21 Best Paper Honorable Mention
Jin Hee (Heather) Kim, Kunpeng Huang, Simone White, Melissa Conroy, Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao
This project integrates shape memory alloy into textiles to provide a series of tactile feedback at various locations on the body. Textile-based devices employ the skin-ground method to eliminate the need for rigid end effectors and achieve minimal substrate thickness. Three-dimensional projective fabric structures were created to accommodate joints and non-planar body geometry.
Awards and Honors
– Virginia F. Cutler, Jean Failing, Home Economics Extension, Orrilla Wright Butts Memorial, Grace C. Dimelow, and Human Ecology Alumni Association Fellowships (2024)
– EECS Rising Stars (2023)
– IEEE IROS Travel Grant (2023)
– Dissertation Research Grant (2022)
– Coway Design Challenge Grand Prize (2015)
– Ewha Design Award (2014)
– Vision Ewha Scholarship (2014)
Media
– Daily Mail ”How a hi-tech knitted glove could treat swollen hands” (2023)
– New Atlas ”KnitDema glove puts the electronic squeeze on swollen fingers” (2023)
– Cornell Chronicle ”Knitted robotic textile promising for hand edema patients” (2023)
– Trend Hunter ”The ’KnitDema’ Glove Alleviates Extremity Swelling” (2023)
– The Engineer ”KnitDema wearable tech could improve hand edema treatment” (2023)
– MHealth Intelligence ”Weill Cornell Medicine Wearable Aims to Treat Hand Edema Patients” (2023)
– Cornell CIS News ”From Cornell’s Hybrid Body Lab, KnitSkin, a stretchable knitted textile robot that can locomote” (2022)
– Hackster.io ”KnitDermis Wearables Provide ”Intimate” Tactile Feedback” (2021)
– Mirage News ”Weaving inclusivity, style into wearable tech” (2021)