Dennis Hong is a Professor and the Founding Director of RoMeLa (Robotics & Mechanisms Laboratory) of the Mechanical Engineering Department at Virginia Tech. His research focuses on robot locomotion and manipulation, autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots. He is the inventor of several novel robots and mechanisms, including the ‘whole skin locomotion’ for mobile robots inspired by how amoeba move, a unique three-legged waking robot ‘STriDER’, an air-powered robotic hand ‘RAPHaEL’, and the world’s first car that the blind can drive. His work has been featured in numerous national and international media.
He was awarded the prestigious Faculty Early Career Development award from the National Science Foundation in 2007.
