Mike Zinn

Professor Mike Zinn is a faculty member in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with affiliations in the College of Engineering and Biomedical Engineering. His research focuses on human-centered robotics, emphasizing safe and effective actuation/control for applications like haptics, medical robotics, and human-robot interaction. He holds a PhD from Stanford University and BS/MS degrees from MIT.

Key research areas include haptic interfaces, robotic actuation technology, continuum/soft robotics, and manufacturing process control. He has received awards such as the 2023 IEEE World Haptics Conference Best Paper and 2018 IEEE Haptics Symposium Best WIP Paper. His recent work addresses challenges in friction stir welding defect detection, shared autonomy systems, and high-fidelity haptic rendering.

Teaching responsibilities include courses on robotics control (ME 441/EC E 441), feedback control systems (ME 446), dynamics (EMA 202), and graduate research supervision. His research integrates mechanical design, control theory, and human factors to advance robotics applications across healthcare and manufacturing sectors.