ECE associate professor awarded NSF Convergence Accelerator Grant for bio-inspired robotic and prosthetic hand research

ECE Associate Professor Joohyung Kim has been awarded a $1.125 million share of a three-year, $5 million Phase 2 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Convergence Accelerator program. The project, “Bio-Inspired Design of Robotic and Prosthetic Hands for Use-Driven Dexterity,” aims to advance the next generation of robotic and prosthetic hand technologies by combining insights from biology, engineering, and materials science.

Kim is part of a collaborative team that includes Professor Nancy Pollard at Carnegie Mellon University and Professor Alamgir Karim at the University of Houston. Their project was selected as one of the winners in a highly competitive program that involved fifteen Phase 1 teams. Only a small group advanced to receive Phase 2 funding.

The Convergence Accelerator initiative supports interdisciplinary work that translates foundational research into practical solutions with real-world impact. The team’s Phase 1 effort established core scientific approaches, explored functional prototypes, and built momentum toward broader deployment of bio-inspired robotic hands. Their work was featured by CMU, highlighting Kim’s role in shaping the technical direction of the research.

The Phase 2 award will enable the team to push this technology toward scalable, industry-ready systems. Their goal is to create robotic and prosthetic hands that demonstrate significantly improved dexterity, adaptability, and usability for both industrial applications and human assistive devices.

Earlier this summer, Kim and members of the KIMLAB attended the NSF kickoff meeting at Carnegie Mellon University, where Phase 2 teams gathered to begin the next stage of development.

Kim’s research strengthens Illinois’ leadership in robotics and human-centered engineering. His contributions also support the department’s mission to translate innovation into technologies that benefit society.

Illinois Grainger Engineering Affiliations

Joohyung Kim is an Illinois Grainger Engineering associate professor of electrical and computer engineering in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He is affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering and Coordinated Science Lab.