Google scholar, Youtube channel, ORCID, arXiv, Research Gate

  • My group member
  • * As corresponding author
  • † Equal contribution

Refereed Journal Articles


  1. Xuan Q, *Li C (2024). Environmental force sensing helps robots traverse cluttered large obstacles, Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, 19, 016002, PDF (Movie)
  2. *Fu Q, Li C (2023). Contact feedback helps snake robots propel against uneven terrain using vertical bending, Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, 18 (5), 056002, PDF (Movies 1, 2, 3, 4)
  3. Clifton GT, Stark AY, Li C, Gravish N (2023). The bumpy road ahead: The role of substrate roughness on animal walking and a proposed comparative metric, Journal of Experimental Biology, 226 (suppl_1), jeb245261, PDF
  4. *Li C, Lewis K (2022), The need for and feasibility of alternative robots to traverse sandy and rocky extraterrestrial terrain, Advanced Intelligent Systems, 5 (3), 202100195PDF
  5. Othayoth R, †Strebel B, Han Y, Fancois E, *Li C (2022). A terrain treadmill to study animal locomotion through large obstacles, Journal of Experimental Biology, 225 (13), jeb243558, PDF (Movies 1, 2, 3)
  6. Wang Y, Othayoth R, *Li C (2022). Cockroaches adjust body and appendages to traverse cluttered large obstacles, Journal of Experimental Biology, 225 (10), jeb243605, PDF (Movies 1, 2, 3)
  7. Fu Q, Astley HC, *Li C (2022). Snakes combine vertical and lateral bending to traverse uneven terrain, Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, 17 (3), 036009, PDF (Movies 1, 2)
  8. Zheng B, Xuan Q, *Li C (2022), A minimalistic stochastic dynamics model of cluttered obstacle traversal, IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, 7 (2), 5119-5126, PDF (Movie)
  9. Othayoth R, *Li C (2021), Propelling and perturbing appendages together facilitate strenuous ground self-righting, eLife, 10:e60233, PDF (Movies 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10)
  10. Othayoth R, Xuan Q, Wang Y, *Li C (2021), Locomotor transitions in the potential energy landscape-dominated regime, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 288 (1949), 20202734, PDF (Movie, Video abstract, Talk)
  11. Han Y, Othayoth R, Wang Y, Hsu C-C, de la Tijera Obert R, Fancois E, *Li C (2021), Shape-induced obstacle attraction and repulsion during dynamic locomotion, International Journal of Robotics Research, 40 (6-7), 939-956, PDF (Movies 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13)
  12. Fu Q, †Mitchel TW, Kim JS, Chirikjian GS, *Li C (2021), Continuous body 3-D reconstruction of limbless animals, Journal of Experimental Biology, 224 (6), jeb220731, PDF
  13. Choi H, Crump C, Duriez C, Elmquist A, Hager G, Han D, Hearl F, Hodgins J, Jain A, Leve F, Li C, Meier F, Negrut D, Righetti L, Rodriguez A, Tan J, Trinkle J (2021), On the use of simulation in robotics: opportunities, challenges, and suggestions for moving forward, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118 (1), e1907856118, PDF
  14. Xuan Q, *Li C (2020), Randomness in appendage coordination facilitates strenuous ground self-righting, Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, 15 (6), 65004, PDF (Movies 12 3)
  15. Xuan Q, *Li C (2020), Coordinated appendages help accumulate energy to self-right on the ground, IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, 5 (4), 6137-6144, PDF (Movie, Talk)
  16. Othayoth R, Thoms G, *Li C (2020), An energy landscape approach to locomotor transitions in complex 3D terrain, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117 (26), 14987-14995, PDF (Movies 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10)
  17. Fu Q, Gart SW, Mitchel TW, Kim JS, Chirikjian GS, *Li C (2020), Lateral oscillation and body compliance help snakes and snake robots traverse stably traverse large, smooth obstacles, Integrative & Comparative Biology, 60 (1), 171-179, PDF (Talk)
  18. Fu Q, *Li C (2020), Robotic modeling of snake traversing large, smooth obstacles reveals stability benefits of body compliance, Royal Society Open Science, 7 (2), 191192, PDF (Movies 12 3 4)
  19. Yang C, Ding L, Tang D, Gao H, Niu L, Li C, Deng Z (2020), Improved Terzaghi theory-based interaction modeling of rotary robotic locomotors with granular substrates, Mechanism & Machine Theory, 152, 103901, PDF
  20. *Li C, Wöhrl T, Lam HK, Full RJ (2019), Cockroaches use diverse strategies to self-right on the ground, Journal of Experimental Biology, 222 (15), jeb186080, PDF (Movies 12 3)
  21. Gart SW, Mitchel TW, *Li C (2019), Snakes partition they body to traverse large steps stably, Journal of Experimental Biology, 222 (8), jeb185991, PDF (Movies 12 3)
  22. Gart SW, Yan C, Othayoth R, Ren Z, *Li C (2018), Dynamic traversal of large gaps by insects and legged robots reveals a template, Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, 13, 026006, PDF (Movies 12 3 4)
  23. Gart SW, *Li C (2018), Body-terrain interaction affects large bump traversal of insects and legged robots, Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, 13, 026005, PDF (Movies 12 3 4)
  24. *Li C, Kessens CC, Fearing RS, Full RJ (2017), Mechanical principles of dynamic terrestrial self-righting using wings, Advanced Robotics, 31, 881-900, PDF
  25. *Li C, Kessens CC, Young A, Fearing RS, Full RJ (2016), Cockroach-inspired winged robot reveals principles of ground-based dynamic self-righting, IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), 2128-2134, PDF (Talk)
  26. Aguilar J, Zhang T, Qian F, Kingsbury M, McInroe B, Mazouchova N, Li C, Maladen RD, Gong C, Travers M, Hatton RL, Choset H, Umbanhowar PB, Goldman DI (2016), A review on locomotion robophysics: The study of movement at the intersection of robotics, soft matter and dynamical systems, Reports on Progress in Physics, 79 (11), 110001, PDF

––Before JHU––

  1. *Li C, Pullin AO, Haldane DW, Lam HK, Fearing RS, Full RJ (2015), Terradynamically streamlined shapes in animals and robots enhances traversability through densely cluttered terrain, Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, 10 (4), 046003, PDF
  2. Haldane DW, Casarez CS, Karras JT, Lee J, Li C, Pullin AO, Schaler EW, Yun D, Ota H, Javey A, Fearing RS (2015), Integrated manufacture of exoskeletons and sensing structures for folded millirobots, ASME Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics, 7 (2), 021011, PDF
  3. Li C, Zhang T, Goldman DI (2013), A terradynamics of legged locomotion on granular media, Science, 339 (6126), 1408-1412, PDF (Featured in Science Perspective)
  4. Zhang T, Qian F, Li C, Masarati P, Hoover AM, Birkmeyer P, Pullin AO, Fearing RS, Goldman DI (2013), Ground fluidization promotes rapid running of a lightweight robot, International Journal of Robotics Research, 32 (7), 859-869, PDF
  5. Li C, Hsieh ST, Goldman DI (2012), Multi-functional foot use during running in the zebra-tailed lizard (Callisaurus draconoides), Journal of Experimental Biology, 215 (18), 3293-3308, PDF (Journal Cover)
  6. Li C, Umbanhowar PB, Komsuoglu H, Goldman DI (2010), The effect of limb kinematics on the speed of a legged robot on granular media, Experimental Mechanics, 50 (9), 1383-1393, PDF
  7. Maladen RD, Ding Y, Li C, Goldman DI (2009), Undulatory swimming in sand: subsurface locomotion of the sandfish lizard, Science, 325 (5938), 314-318, PDF (Featured in Nature News & Views)
  8. Li C, Umbanhowar PB, Komsuoglu H, Koditschek DE, Goldman DI (2009), Sensitive dependence of the motion of a legged robot on granular media, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106 (9), 3029-3034, PDF (Featured in Physics Today and IEEE Spectrum)

Refereed Conference Papers (full-length)


  1. Ramesh D, Fu Q, *Li C (2022). SenSnake: A snake robot with contact force sensing for studying locomotion in complex 3-D terrain, IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), 2068-2075, PDF (Movie, Talk)
  2. Mi J, Wang Y, *Li C (2022). Omni-Roach: A legged robot capable of traversing multiple types of large obstacles and self-righting, IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), 235-242, PDF (Movie, Talk)
  3. *Li C, Kessens CC, Young A, Fearing RS, Full RJ (2016), Cockroach-inspired winged robot reveals principles of ground-based dynamic self-righting, IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), 2128-2134, PDF (Talk)

––Before JHU––

  1. Li C, Zhang T, Goldman DI (2012), A resistive force model of legged locomotion on granular media, Proceedings of Climbing and Walking Robots Conference, 433-440, PDF
  2. Li C, Ding Y, Gravish N, Maladen RD, Masse A., Umbanhowar PB, Komsuoglu H, Koditschek DE, Goldman DI (2012), Towards a terramechanics for bio-inspired locomotion in granular environments, Proceedings of NASA/ASCE Workshop on Granular Materials in Space Exploration, 264-273, PDF
  3. Qian F, Zhang T, Li C, Masarati P, Hoover AM, Birkmeyer P, Pullin AO, Fearing RS, Goldman DI (2012), Walking and running on yielding and fluidizing ground, Proceedings of Robotics: Science & Systems Conference, 345-352, PDF
  4. Ding Y, Gravish N, Li C, Maladen RD, Mazouchova N, Sharpe SS, Umbanhowar PB, Goldman DI (2011), Comparative studies reveal principles of movement on and within granular media, Proceedings of IMA Workshop on Natural Locomotion in Fluids and on Surfaces, 281-292, PDF
  5. Li C, Hoover AM, Birkmeyer P, Umbanhowar PB, Fearing RS, Goldman DI (2010), Systematic study of the performance of small robots on controlled laboratory substrates, Proceedings of SPIE – Micro- and Nanotechnology Sensors, Systems, and Applications II, 76790Z, PDF

Non-refereed Articles

  1. *Li C, *Qian F (2023), Swift progress for robots over complex terrain, Nature News & Reviews, 616 (7956), 252-253, PDF
  2. Ding Y, Li C, Goldman DI (2013), Swimming in the desert, Physics Today, 66 (11), 68-69, PDF

Dissertations & Theses

Doctoral Dissertations

  1. Fu Q (2023). Snake and snake robot locomotion in complex 3-D terrain, Doctoral Dissertation, Johns Hopkins University PDF
  2. Othayoth R (2021). Kinetic energy fluctuation-driven locomotor transitions on potential energy landscapes of beam obstacle traversal and ground self-righting, Doctoral Dissertation, Johns Hopkins University PDF
  3. Li C (2011). Biological, robotic, and physics studies to discover principles of legged locomotion on granular media, Doctoral Dissertation, Georgia Institute of Technology PDF

Master Theses

  1. Zheng B (2021). A stochastic dynamics model of beam obstacle traversal in two dimensions, Master Thesis, Johns Hopkins University PDF

Conference Abstracts