Lin Cao

Dr. Lin Cao is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Medical Robotics at the University of Sheffield, jointly affiliated with the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the Department of Automatic Control and Systems Engineering. He leads the Advanced Robotics for Medicine (ARMed) Laboratory, developing millimeter-scale flexible robots for minimally invasive cancer diagnosis and treatment. His research bridges theoretical modeling and clinical applications, with technologies validated in animal and human trials.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Canada (2015)
• Research Fellow in Medical Robotics, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Research Interests: Dr. Cao specializes in flexible endoscopic surgical robots, soft robotics, and compliant mechanisms. His lab focuses on novel actuation, sensing, and control methods for accessing deep anatomical structures with minimal invasiveness. Key applications include robotic suturing, ablation therapies, and swallowable capsules, developed through close collaboration with clinicians and industry partners.

Publication Trends: His 15 most recent articles (2019–2024) demonstrate a strong focus on surgical robotics innovation, including force sensing, AI-driven control, thermal ablation, and human-robot interaction. Recurring themes include miniaturized sensor integration, friction modeling for flexible instruments, and validation in clinically relevant environments.

Awards:

• Best Presentation Award, Congress of European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (Amazing Technologies session)
• Finalist, Surgical Robot Challenge at Imperial College London

Advising & Grants: Dr. Cao supervises 5 PhD students on projects spanning surgical robotics, AI, and sensor design. Notable grants include:

• Royal Society Award for Robotic Exoskeletal Sleeve (£19,888, PI)
• Submillimetre Steerable Bronchoscope development (£11,300, co-PI)
• SmartTennis sports training system (£45,991, co-PI)

Laboratory: The ARMed Lab pioneers continuum robots for gastrointestinal endoscopy and bronchoscopy, emphasizing bench-to-bedside translation. The team collaborates with Sheffield Children's Hospital and A*STAR Singapore, and maintains a strong publication record in IEEE/ASME Transactions and biomedical engineering journals.