Dennis Hong

Dennis Hong is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He leads the Robotics & Mechanisms Laboratory (RoMeLa), focusing on innovative robotic systems with applications in autonomous vehicles, humanoids, and soft actuators.

• University affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles
• Academic rank: Professor
• Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

His research interests span:

• Humanoids & Bipedal Robots
• Soft Actuators
• Autonomous Vehicle Systems
• Kinematics & Mechanism Design

Recent publication trends emphasize humanoid locomotion, adaptive robotic platforms, and bio-inspired actuation systems. Notable collaborations include development of advanced soccer-playing robots (Team CHARLI) and accessibility-focused autonomous vehicles.

Scientific recognition includes:

• 2016 URAI Best Paper Award
• 2015 Hyupsung Social Contribution Award
• 2015 RoboCup Winner

Media coverage highlights his work on humanoid robots (2025 Netflix collaboration), disaster response robotics (2023), and innovations in robotic mobility systems (2022-2025).