Founder
Achievements
Dr. Cheol Hoon Park
Founder & CEO
Principal Researcher, KIMM / Professor, UST-KIMM School
Principal Researcher at KIMM (Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials), AI Robot Research Division, Advanced Robot Research Center, and Professor at the UST-KIMM School (University of Science & Technology). Invented the world's first Fabric Muscle artificial muscle actuator by weaving shape memory alloy thinner than human hair. Pioneered a new paradigm in clothing-type wearable robots.
“Opening an era where fabric becomes muscle, and clothing becomes strength”
Research Background
Affiliation
KIMM
AI Robot Research Div., Advanced Robot Center
Expertise
SMA Artificial Muscle
Fabric Muscle Weaving · Wearable Robot Design
Technology Level
Core Technology Holder
Auto-weaving Equipment · Mass Production Ready
Awards & Recognition
SLINGSHOT 2026 Finalist — Top 10 in Advanced Manufacturing & Industrial Systems
Selected among 50 global finalists from thousands of startups at Singapore's flagship competition, ranking in the top 10 of the Advanced Manufacturing & Industrial Systems track. Competing at Domain Finals this October.
Excellence Award, 2026 Science & Technology Startup Competition
Selected among 15 finalist teams nationwide, top 7 at the final demo day (Aug 2026)
Grand Prize, Daedeok Innopolis Deep-Tech Startup Competition
Top prize (INNOPOLIS Foundation Chairman's Award) for Fabric Muscle-based wearable suit technology
Selected as one of KIMM's 20 First·Best·Only Technologies
The Fabric Muscle-based clothing-type Bionic Suit selected among KIMM's 20 representative technologies for its 50th anniversary
KIMM Best Research Award
Awarded KIMM's Best Research Prize for Fabric Muscle and clothing-type wearable robot technology
Top 10 Machinery Technologies of the Year
Fabric Muscle-based clothing-type wearable robot selected as one of KIMM's Top 10 Machinery Technologies
Key Projects
KIMM–ROK Army Field Validation MOU
MOU signed in May 2026 for field validation cooperation on SMA-based clothing-type soft wearable robots
Alchemist Project
Fabric Muscle weaving technology research and automated weaving equipment development
Core Robot Technology Development
Clothing-type wearable robot core technology R&D
Lee Kun-hee Pediatric Cancer & Rare Disease Initiative
Clinical trials for Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients. Validated 57%+ shoulder ROM improvement
Patents
60 patents worldwide (34 granted · 26 pending) covering Fabric Muscle and clothing-type wearable robot core technology.
60
Patents worldwide (34 granted · 26 pending)
48
Domestic (32 granted · 16 pending)
12
International (2 granted · 10 pending — US·EPO·PCT)
KEY PATENTS
Key Patents
Our IP covers the full stack — from the core Fabric Muscle technology to mass-production equipment and joint-specific suits.
Fabric Woven with SMA Springs and Textile-Type Soft Actuator
Continuous Manufacturing Apparatus and Method for SMA Springs
Modular Joint-Specific Assistive Wearable Robot Using Fabric Actuators
Shoulder-Assist Soft Wearable Robot
Knee-Assist Suit
Soft Actuator with Cooling System and Wearable Robot
Driving Apparatus and Method for Artificial Muscle Modules
These patents were invented by our founder and are owned by KIMM. SARTEXO holds the commercialization rights.
Publications
15 SCI PapersResearch outcomes published in international journals
Differential Force Sensing for Human-Artificial Muscle Interaction in Wearable Robots
Differential force sensing for human-artificial muscle interaction
Design of a bistable inertial clutch for a passive-elastic ankle exoskeleton
A bistable inertial clutch design for a passive-elastic ankle assistive device
Soft Exosuit Based on Fabric Muscle to Assist Shoulder Joint Movements in Patients with Neuromuscular Diseases
Fabric Muscle shoulder-assist suit, Seoul National University Hospital clinical trial — 57%+ shoulder ROM improvement
DOI: 10.1109/TNSRE.2025.3613709
Rollable-based layer jamming device with variable stiffness for soft wearable applications
A rollable layer-jamming device with variable stiffness for soft wearable applications
Soft Exosuit Based on Fabric Muscle for Upper Limb Assistance
540g upper limb assist suit — 50–70% muscle activity reduction under 10kg load (2022 prototype)
Fabric muscle with a cooling acceleration structure for upper limb assistance soft exosuits
Fabric Muscle with a cooling acceleration structure for faster response in upper limb assistance
Suit-type Wearable Robot Powered by Shape-memory-alloy-based Fabric Muscle
Proposed the first suit-type wearable robot (STWR) powered by SMA-based Fabric Muscle
A Novel Fabric Muscle Based on Shape Memory Alloy Springs
Proposed a novel Fabric Muscle technology based on SMA springs
and 7 more
Get Started
Ready to Work With Us?
Product adoption, pilot requests, technology partnership — start the conversation with SARTEXO.