The full archive, newest first.
Announcement· August 2026
The lab has rebranded: formerly the Robotics and Intelligent Systems (RIS) Lab at City University of Hong Kong, we're now CLIMB Lab (Convergent Locomotion, Intelligent Mechanisms, Bioinspired Robotics) at the University of Toronto. Our new home online is live at climb.mie.utoronto.ca (or the short link, uoft.me/climb), built fresh for the move, bringing together our research, publications, and team in one place, with more still being added.
Press· July 2026
Meet MIE Professor Pakpong Chirarattananon, a University of Toronto feature on the lab's approach to bio-inspired aerial robots and hybrid locomotion.
Press· April 2026
The Hopcopter, which combines hopping and flying, was featured on CNN International and CNN.com by the CNN Tech for Good team, filmed while the lab was still at City University of Hong Kong. Thanks to Song Li, Songnan Bai, Runze Ding, and the rest of the team.
Award· October 2025
Pakpong was selected for the New Generation Star Project spotlight at IROS 2025, recognizing his work on bioinspired robotic systems, micro aerial vehicles, and hybrid locomotion, from efficient revolving-wing drones to flapping-wing robots and multimodal multirotors.
Announcement· August 2025
After a decade in Hong Kong, Pakpong has joined the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto, an incredible journey with colleagues and students at City University of Hong Kong and the start of a new one. The lab is now CLIMB Lab, continuing its bioinspired robotics research in Toronto.
Award· June 2025
Pakpong was one of five scholars honoured at the CityUHK Outstanding Research Awards 2024, receiving the award for Junior Faculty. His research explores how lessons from nature can help build more capable and efficient miniature flying robots. The team has pioneered new types of aerial robots, including the first drone that can both fly and hop continuously over obstacles, expanding how robots can move and interact with real-world environments. (award video)
Publication· April 2025
Collaborative work with MIT: an insect-scale robot that combines flying and jumping, cutting power use by 64%.
Announcement· November 2024
The lab is moving to the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto in Summer 2025, continuing its bioinspired robotics research in Toronto.
Publication· April 2024
A new drone that synergizes hopping and flying for unmatched agility and efficiency, published in Science Robotics.
Announcement· April 2024
Delighted to join the editorial board of npj Robotics.
Publication· December 2023
Published in npj Robotics (Nature Portfolio): quadcopters can leverage propeller airflow physics to explore unknown environments.
Opening· May 2023
Seeking 2-3 highly motivated postdocs for bioinspired robotics research: resilient drones, soft robots with adaptable morphology, and hybrid multimodal-locomotion robots.
Award· April 2023
Won for work on modular quadrotors with passively foldable airframes. Congrats to Huaiyuan Jia and Songnan Bai.
Publication· May 2022
Our Science Robotics paper: a maple seed-inspired vehicle that flies twice as long as similarly weighted quadrotors. Covered by SCMP and other media.
Award· April 2022
“Collision resilient insect-scale soft-actuated aerial robots with high agility” selected for the prestigious award.
Event· January 2022
With Professors Chen (MIT), Helbling (Cornell), and Paik (EPFL): “Challenges and Opportunities of Bio-inspired Design, Actuation, and Locomotion,” featuring ten invited speakers.
Team· June 2021
Congratulations to Yi-Hsuan Hsiao, joining the doctoral program at MIT's Department of EECS with a fellowship.
Team· April 2021
Congratulations to Jihao Xu, who joins the team in Fall 2021.
Announcement· April 2021
With Professor Yufeng Kevin Chen (MIT): “Microrobotics: A Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Robert J. Wood.”
Opening· November 2019
Seeking 2-3 exceptionally qualified students for the upcoming intake.
Publication· November 2019
Collaborative work with Harvard University on flight of microrobots actuated by soft artificial muscles.
Award· April 2019
Recognized for work on an origami-inspired quadrotor.
Opening· August 2018
Seeking 2-3 exceptionally qualified students for the upcoming intake.
Publication· October 2017
A robot that flies, dives, and swims, with video.
Event· August 2017
Speaking in the “Soft, Micro-Nano, Bio-inspired Robotics” session, Aug 15–18.
Award· June 2017
The perching paper with electrostatic adhesion selected by the Chinese Academy of Sciences as one of the top 10 papers in Physics for public impact in 2016.
Event· March 2017
One of eight speakers at the Technology Forums, 12 April 2017.
Publication· February 2017
“Dynamics and flight control of a flapping-wing robotic insect in the presence of wind gusts.”
Award· January 2017
Recognized for exemplary contributions to CityU's research and professional education.
Opening· August 2016
Seeking 2-3 exceptionally qualified students for the upcoming intake.
Publication· May 2016
“Perching and takeoff of a robotic insect on overhangs using switchable electrostatic adhesion,” with video.
Team· April 2016
Ee Huei Ng joins the team in Fall 2016.
Publication· February 2016
“Perching with a robotic insect using adaptive tracking control and iterative learning control,” with video.
Publication· January 2016
“Aerodynamics, sensing, and control of insect-scale flapping-wing flight.”