Ying Yi Tan | Smart Manufacturing | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Ying Yi Tan | Smart Manufacturing | Best Researcher Award

Research Fellow | Singapore University of Technology and Design | Singapore

Dr. Tan Ying Yi is a Research Fellow at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) whose research lies at the intersection of digital fabrication, smart textiles, and computational design. The focus of his work is the development of digital knitting technologies and multi-material additive manufacturing methods for creating functional, mechanically graded, and intelligent textile-based systems. His investigations explore how knitted fabrics can be engineered with integrated electrical and mechanical properties, transforming traditional textiles into high-performance materials applicable to both architectural and biomedical domains. Ying Yi has played a significant role in advancing customized technical textiles for applications such as structural membranes, façade systems, prosthetic interfaces, and wearable technologies. His leadership in projects involving smart garments for body joint monitoring has contributed to innovations in digital health and human–machine interaction, demonstrating the potential of computational design and materials research to improve quality of life. Collaborative projects with institutions like SingHealth Polyclinics, Tan Tock Seng General Hospital, and Hyundai Motor Group have led to impactful real-world solutions such as smart knee braces for gait assessment and smart shirts for motion tracking. His work is characterized by an interdisciplinary approach, blending engineering precision, material science, and architectural design principles to create responsive systems that interact dynamically with users and environments. Recognized with awards for excellence in architectural membranes and advanced manufacturing, Ying Yi continues to contribute to the integration of digital fabrication, computational modeling, and soft robotics in technical textile research. His studies have been featured by major media outlets for their innovation and societal relevance, showcasing how fabric-based systems can bridge the gap between engineering and design. Citations 19 Documents 5 h-index View.

Featured Publication

Weeger, O., Sakhaei, A. H., Tan, Y. Y., Quek, Y. H., Lee, T. L., Yeung, S. K., & Kaijima, S. (2018). Nonlinear multi-scale modelling, simulation and validation of 3D knitted textiles. Applied Composite Materials, 25(4), 797–810. Citations: 43

Sakhaei, A. H., Kaijima, S., Lee, T. L., Tan, Y. Y., & Dunn, M. L. (2018). Design and investigation of a multi-material compliant ratchet-like mechanism. Mechanism and Machine Theory, 121, 184–197. Citations: 31

Gupta, S. S., Tan, Y. Y., Chia, P. Z., Pambudi, C. P., Quek, Y. H., Yogiaman, C., & Tracy, K. J. (2020). Prototyping knit tensegrity shells: A design-to-fabrication workflow. SN Applied Sciences, 2(6), 1062. Citations: 25

Do, H., Tan, Y. Y., Ramos, N., Kiendl, J., & Weeger, O. (2020). Nonlinear isogeometric multiscale simulation for design and fabrication of functionally graded knitted textiles. Composites Part B: Engineering, 202, 108416. Citations: 20

Gupta, U., Lau, J. L., Chia, P. Z., Tan, Y. Y., Ahmed, A., Tan, N. C., Soh, G. S., & Low, H. Y. (2023). All knitted and integrated soft wearable of high stretchability and sensitivity for continuous monitoring of human joint motion. Advanced Healthcare Materials, 12(21), 2202987. Citations: 17

Pal, A., Chan, W. L., Tan, Y. Y., Chia, P. Z., & Tracy, K. J. (2020). Knit concrete formwork. Proceedings of the 25th CAADRIA Conference, 1, 213–222. Citations: 7