Hi friend! I'm Wing-Sum.

I'm an engineer, teacher, and artist.

My research focuses on shape-changing robotic systems and flexible mechanisms. I recently finished my PhD in mechanical engineering in the SHAPE Lab at Stanford University, where I was advised by Professor Sean Follmer.

I love to teach, and believe in learning through iteration, experimentation, and research. While at Stanford, I was an instructor for ME 220: Intro to Sensors and ME 210: Intro to Mechatronics.

Below are some highlights of my work. More details can be found on the dedicated pages.

Research  

Video of a multi-line flexible rod shape display rendering the front, middle, and back of a car.
Flexible Rod Shape Displays

Wing-Sum Law, Sofia Wyetzner, and Sean Follmer

Shape displays are a type of tangible user interface that can generate multiple physical forms in a reconfigurable manner. In this work we detail the design and actuation of flexible rod shape displays – a novel type of tangible user interface. The smoothness, high compliance, and easy manipulability of flexible rods make them a promising medium for expressing high curvature shapes – a task with which many existing shape displays struggle.

| In Preparation

Teaching  

One of my highest priorities as an academic is teaching. I teach for advanced undergraduate / early graduate mechatronics courses. I focus on identifying problem solving approaches through experimentation and connecting physical intuition to complex concepts.

More details about my approach and the classes that I've taught are on the teaching page.

Academic Year 2023-2024:

Projects  

A neon sign in the shape of a grapefruit that says 'Slightly Bitter'.
Custom Neon LED Sign

I've always wanted my own neon sign, but lack the willingness to pay for the real deal. Besides, as an artist, I wanted to design my own. Luckily for me, you can buy pseudo-neon lights – LED strips embedded sideways in colorful silicone that effectively imitate an actual neon light. Using many of these strips, a 24V 5A power supply, some wood sheets, and a lot of soldering, I put together my own version of a neon sign.

  YouTube  | 2022 June 25

Art  

I love to draw! See the rest of my art on the art page.

Personal

I enjoy a variety of artistic hobbies, including drawing, dancing with Dv8, and making things. To relax, I like to play video games and hang out with my pet rabbit.