Towards Accessible Mobility Support: User-Centered Design of a Passive, Multi-Functional, Low-Cost Knee Exoskeleton
ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '26)
Project Page | DOI | Video | Preview | CMU SCS News
Hi, I'm a Ph.D. student in the Interactive Structures Lab at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII), advised by Prof. Alexandra Ion. I intern at Ladd Lab in the summer of 2026 at Stanford University School of Medicine, working with Dr. Amy Ladd and Deborah Kenney.
I develop robotic functionality through mechanical intelligence. Working at the intersection of human-computer interaction, mechanical engineering, computer graphics, and healthcare, I introduce a new class of fully passive rehabilitative and assistive wearables that mimic the adaptive behaviors of robotic systems. I design, computationally model, and fabricate these personalized, fully unpowered devices, and evaluate them with clinicians and patients.
Before joining CMU, I pursued my master's degree in Computer Science at Stanford University. I did my undergrad and master's in Industrial Design at Zhejiang University, where I'm honored to be one of the Morningside Cultural China Scholars.
Contact me: yuyulin@andrew.cmu.edu
Google Scholar | Github | CV
News
- 07/2026: Gave two talks at the CHARM Lab and HCI lunch at Stanford!
- 06/2026: Gave a talk at the Morphing Matter Lab at UC Berkeley!
- 05/2026: Gave a talk at BNBU
- 01/2026: Gave three talks at Zhejiang University, Tsinghua University and China Academy of Art
Robotic Functionality
through
Mechanical Intelligence
I realize capabilities typically found only in actuated robotic systems within fully passive structures. By sensing, deciding, and responding solely through their geometries, these structures dynamically adjust to both context and user needs without motors, sensors, or batteries. These mechanically intelligent devices combine the low-cost and lightweight benefits of static devices with the multifunctional, personalized adaptability of active robotic systems.
Unpowered Intelligence
Personalized Bistable Orthoses for Rehabilitation of Finger Joints
ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (UIST '25)
Best Demo Honorable Mention (Jury's Choice)
Project Page | DOI | Video | Preview | CMU SCS News
Wearable Material Properties: Passive Wearable Microstructures as Adaptable Interfaces for the Physical Environment
ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '25)
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MetaBeads: Enabling Shape- and Stiffness-Changing Interfaces through Beaded Metamaterials
ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (UIST '26)
Best Demo Honorable Mention (Jury's Choice)
Project Page | DOI | Video
Parametric Haptics: Versatile Geometry-based Tactile Feedback Devices
ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (UIST '23)
Project Page | DOI | Video
Earlier work: Robotic Intelligence
ConeAct: A Multistable Actuator for Dynamic Materials
ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '24)
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PneuMesh: Pneumatic-driven Truss-based Shape Changing System
ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '22)
It Is Your Turn: Collaborative Ideation with a Co-Creative Robot through Sketch
ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '20)
BatikGuide: Comparing the Tangible Tutorial System and the Human Teacher in Intangible Cultural Heritage Education
ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference (DIS '20)
AquaBot: An Interactive System for Digital Water Play
International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (HCII 2019)
OlfacEnhancer: A Vision-Based Scented Necklace for Cross-Modal Interactions
Design and Semantics of Form and Movement (DeSForM 2019)