Research Interests: Dr. Kim’s primary focus is the development of assistive robotic devices for improving mobility and quality of life through integrative approaches of numerical dynamic models, machine learning techniques, experimental testbeds, and controlled human-subject experiments. At present, she works on developing assistance methods to enhance balance and walking economy using wearable devices (e.g., exoskeletons and prostheses). As a part of this effort, she is also interested in using those devices to understand further impaired gait and advance training methods of motor function. In line with this research, Dr. Kim also explores the control of autonomous devices (e.g., legged robots).

Selected journal articles

1. H. Jeong, P. Haghighat, P. Kantharaju, M. Jacobson, H. Jeong, M. Kim, Muscle coordination and recruitment during squat assistance using a robotic ankle-foot orthosis, Scientific Reports, accepted.
2. J. Kim, P. Kantharaju, M. Jacobson, H. Jeong, H. Kim, J. Lee, J. Matthews, N. Zavanelli,  H. Kim, H. Jeong, M. Kim, and W. Yeo, Soft, flexible, and wireless wearable bioelectronics for exosuit metabolic rate estimation, npj Flexible Electronics, accepted.
3. S.Vakacherla, P. Kathanraju, M. Mevada, M. Kim, A single chest accelerometer can be used to recognize activities, ASME Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, accepted.
4. P. Kantharaju, H. Jeong, Sruthi Ramadurai, M. Jacobson, H. Jeong, M. Kim, Reducing squat physical effort using personalized assistance from an ankle exoskeleton, IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, 2022;30:1786-1795.
5. P. Kantharaju, M. Kim, Phase-plane based model-free estimation of steady-state metabolic cost, IEEE Access, 2002.
6. M. Jacobson, P. Kantharaju, H. Jeong, J. Ryu, J. Park, H. Jung, M. Kim, Foot contact forces can be used to personalize a wearable robot during human walking, Scientific Reports, 12, no. 1 (2022): 1-12.
7. M. Kim, H. Jeong, P. Kantharaju, D. Yoo, M. Jacobson, D. Shin, C. Han, J. Patton, Visual guidance can help with the use of a robotic exoskeleton during human walking, Scientific Reports, 12, no. 1 (2022): 1-10.
8. Y. Ding^†, M.  Kim^†, S. Kuindersma, and C. Walsh, Human-in-the-loop optimization of hip assistance with a soft exosuit during walking, Science Robotics, 3 (15), 2018.  († equal contributor).
9. M. Kim, T.Chen, T.Chen, and S. H. Collins, An ankle‐foot prosthesis emulator with control of plantarflexion and inversion‐eversion torque, Transactions on Robotics, 99: 1-12, 2018.
10. M. Kim and S. H. Collins, Once-per-step control of ankle push-off work improves balance in a three-dimensional simulation of bipedal walking, Transactions on Robotics, 33(2): 406-418, 2017.

Selected peer-reviewed conference proceedings

1. Ramadurai, S., Jacobson, M., Kantharaju, P, Jeong, H., Jeong, H., & Kim, M. (2022). Evaluation of Lower Limb Exoskeleton for Improving Balance during Squatting Exercise using Center of Pressure Metrics. In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting. 66(1), SAGE Publications.
2. Wen, M. S. Jacobson, X. Zhou, C. Jeong, M. Kim, The personalization of stiffness for an ankle-foot prosthesis emulator using Human-in-the-loop optimization, IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, Virtual conference, 2020.
3. M. Kim^†, C. Liu^†, J. Kim, S. Lee, A. Meguid, C. J. Walsh, and S. Kuindersma, Bayesian optimization of soft exosuits using a metabolic estimator stopping process, In Proceedings of IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, 2019 († equal contributor).
4. M. Kim, D. Ye, C. Liu, J. Kim, S. Lee, N. Karavas, C. Walsh, and S. Kuindersma. “Human-in-the-Loop Bayesian Optimization of a Tethered Soft Exosuit for Assisting Hip Extension.” In International Symposium on Wearable Robotics, 142-146. Springer, Cham, 2018.
5. S. H. Collins^†, M. Kim^†, T. Chen, T. Chen, An ankle-foot prosthesis emulator with control of plantar  flexion and inversion-eversion torque. In Proceedings of IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, 6 pages, 2015 († equal contributor), * Best Medical Robotics Paper Award, ICRA 2015.

Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering,
Carnegie Mellon University, 2015

M.S., Mechanical Engineering,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2006

M.S., Mechanical Engineering
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 2004

B.A., Mechanical Engineering
Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea, 2002

1. Ding, G. Ignacio, J. Kim, M. Kim, S. Kuindersma, S. Lee, K. O’Donnell, C. Siviy, C. Walsh, Controls Optimization for Wearable Systems, US11498203B2, filed September 3, 2020, granted November 15, 2022.
2. Caputo, S.H. Collins, P. Adamczyk, M. Kim, T. Chen, T. Chen, Methods, apparatuses and systems for amputee gait capacity assessment, US 10350092 B1, filed 2016, granted 2019.
3. Caputo, S.H. Collins, M. Kim, T. Chen, P. Adamczyk, V. Chiu, Apparatuses, and systems for amputee gait capacity assessment, US 10537283 B1, filed 2016, granted 2020.
4. Kim, K. Roh, S. Lim, B. Lim, G. Xu, Method and apparatus to plan motion path of robot, US9411335 B2, US 20110035087 A1, filed 2010, issued 2016.
5. Kim, K. Roh, Y. Shim, S. Lim, Robot and control method thereof, US9193072 B2, US20120072022 A1, filed 2011, issued 2015.
6. Kim, K. Roh, S. Lim, B. Lim, G. Xu, Path planning apparatus and method for robot, US9044862 B2, US20110035051 A1, filed 2010, issued 2015.
7. Kim, S. Lim, K. Roh, Y. Shim, Robot and control method thereof, US9014854 B2, US20120078419 A1, filed 2011, issued 2015.
8. Kim, K. Roh, Y. Shim, Apparatus for planning path of robot and method thereof, US8924016 B2, US20120165982 A1, filed 2011, issued 2014.
9. Kim, S. Lim, K. Roh, Y. Shim, Robot and control method thereof, US8855814 B2, US20120173019 A1, filed 2011, issued 2014.
10. Kim, K. Roh, S. Lim, B. Lim, G. Xu, Method and apparatus to plan motion path of robot, US8825209 B2, US 20110035050 A1, filed 2010, issued 2014.
11. Kim, B. Lim, S. Lim, K. Roh, Path planning apparatus of robot and method and computer-readable medium thereof, US8818555 B2, US20110106307 A1, filed 2010, issued 2014.
12. Kim, S. Lim, K. Roh, B. Lim, Path planning apparatus of robot and method and computer-readable medium thereof, US8483874 B2, US20110106306 A1, filed 2010, issued 2013.
13. Lim, M. Kim, K. Roh, Y. Shim, B. Lim, Robot and control method thereof, US8768512 B2, US20120165979 A1, filed 2011, issued 2014.
14. Lim, K. Roh, S. Lim, M. Kim, Robot and control method of optimizing robot motion performance thereof, US9037292 B2, US20110106303 A1, filed 2010, issued 2015.
15. Lim, K. Roh, S. Lim, M. Kim, G. Xu, Apparatus and method for stabilizing humanoid robot, US8798793 B2, US20110040407 A1, filed 2010, issued 2014.
16. Guo, K. Roh, S. Lim, B. Lim, M. Kim, Path planning apparatus and method of Robot, US8352074 B2, US20110035053 A1, filed 2010, issued 2013.