Keynote Speakers-WCMEIM 2024

Prof. Youfu Li

City University of Hong Kong, China

IEEE Fellow

You-Fu Li received the PhD degree in robotics from the Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford in 1993. From 1993 to 1995 he was a research staff in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, UK. He joined City University of Hong Kong in 1995 and is currently professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. His research interests include robot sensing, robot vision, and visual tracking. In these areas, he has published over 400 papers including over 180 SCI listed journal papers. Dr Li has received many awards in robot sensing and vision including IEEE Sensors Journal Best Paper Award by IEEE Sensors Council, Second Prize of Natural Science Research Award by the Ministry of Education, China. He has served as an Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering (T-ASE), Associate Editor and Guest Editor for IEEE  Robotics and Automation Magazine (RAM), and Editor for CEB, IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA). He is a fellow of IEEE.

Title：Visual Sensing and Tracking for Robots

Abstract: Visual tracking is important for many engineering applications including robotics. Efficient 3D measurement and trajectory tracking presents many challenges. In this talk, I will present our research in 3D visual sensing for trajectory tracking. Different approaches in the 3D visual sensing will be reported. A signature based approach is studied for free form trajectory description in Euclidean space. The signature admits rich invariants due to the computational locality. By implementing the approximate signature, the noise-sensitive high order derivatives are avoided. The trajectory can then be recognized based on the customized signatures similarity metric. To overcome the limitations of traditional cameras in their low dynamic range, high power consumption, and a tendency to motion blurs, a biologically inspired vision is introduced that works asynchronously on pixel levels rather than trapping in frame-rate limitations. This gives rise to a new type of dynamic vision system with its low power consumption, high temporal resolution, and high dynamic range. Some illustrative examples will be presented to show the relevant issues for robotic applications.

Prof. Mingcong Deng

Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan

Fellow of The Engineering Academy of Japan, Fellow of IEEE

Prof. Mingcong Deng received his PhD in Systems Science from Kumamoto University, Japan, in 1997. From 1997.04 to 2010.09, he was with Kumamoto University; University of Exeter, UK; NTT Communication Science Laboratories; Okayama University. From 2010.10, he has been with Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan, as a professor. Now he is the head of Department of EE. Prof. Deng has over 550 publications including 210 journal papers in peer reviewed journals including IEEE Transactions, IEEE Press and other top tier outlets. He serves as a chief editor for 2 international journals, and associate editors of 6 international journals. Prof. Deng is a co-chair of agricultural robotics and automation technical committee, IEEE Robotics and Automation Society; Also a chair of the environmental sensing, networking, and decision making technical committee, IEEE SMC Society. He was the recipient of 2014 & 2019 Meritorious Services Award of IEEE SMC Society, 2020 IEEE RAS Most Active Technical Committee Award (IEEE RAS Society) and 2024 IEEE Most Active SMC Technical Committee Award (IEEE RAS Society). He is a fellow of The Engineering Academy of Japan, and a fellow of IEEE, AAIA.

Speech Title: Learning & Operator based Control of Nonlinear Systems with Smart Material Actuators and Sensors

Abstract: Learning based nonlinear control design is necessary to get desired performance of nonlinear systems. Recently, smart materials have been used as actuators and sensors in many nonlinear dynamic systems to realize the reduction in size and weight of the systems, such as piezoelectric elements, shape-memory alloy etc. In this talk, for obtaining desired control performance, based on operator theory nonlinear control schemes for systems with piezoelectric actuators & sensors is introduced, nonlinear control for a system using an interactive shape memory alloy actuation is also shown. Further, current results are shown to combine some learning schemes. 

Prof. Yaowu Hu

Wuhan University, China

Yaowu Hu, PhD, professor at Wuhan University, young leading scholar, recipient of national young talent program. Dr. Hu focuses on laser shock hybrid manufacturing research. From 2012 to 2017, Dr. Hu was in School of Industrial Engineering of Purdue University, doing research in the design, experimental, and modeling of scalable 3D manufacturing. He was a tenure-track assistant professor at University at Buffalo, SUNY, and served at NSF of USA as a panel reviewer. His works have been published at Science, International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture，Advanced Materials，Nano Letters，Applied Surface Science, and other high-standard journals for more than 60 times.

Title：Mechanical effects by laser shock and the manufacturing applications

Abstract: This talk will discuss the mechanical effects caused by high-energy pulsed laser interacting with materials, the mechanical responses of metallic materials under such shock waves, and their innovative applications in the manufacturing domain for the purpose of property enhancements of materials. The talk will start with the discussion of high-temperature laser shock peening technology developed by our group, elaborating the characteristics and advantages of high-temperature laser shock peening comparing with traditional room-temperature laser shock peening. Then we will talk about self-armored hydrophobic structures fabrication by laser shock. Finally, the advances of micro- and nano-manufacturing enabled by laser shock will also be included.

Prof. Jiang Guo

Dalian University of Technology

the top 2% of scientists globally

 Jiang Guo is a professor and doctoral advisor at Dalian University of Technology. He is a recipient of the National High-level Talent Introduction Program for Young Professionals and the Outstanding Young Talent in the Xingliao Talent Program. He is also among the top 2% of scientists globally, according to Elsevier. His main research areas include precision/ultra-precision machining, optical manufacturing, laser processing, and metal substrate construction and forming. Guo has published over 100 academic papers in international journals and has applied for and been granted more than 80 invention patents. He has led over 20 projects, including the National Natural Science Foundation of China General Programs and National Key R&D Programs. In addition, he serves as an editorial board member for journals such as Extreme Manufacturing and Advances in Manufacturing. His accolades include more than 10 awards, such as the First Prize for Technological Invention from the Society of Optical Engineering and the Second Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress in the Machinery Industry.