Prof.Dan Zhang.jpg
(Keynote Speaker)

Hong Kong Polytechnic University, HKSAR, China
Fellow of Canadian Academy of Engineering, ASME Fellow

Keynote Lecture: TBA

Abstract:TBA

Biography: Professor Dan Zhang is a Chair Professor of Intelligent Robotics and Automation, and Director of Consortium for Intelligent Robotics Research at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Laval University, Canada in 2000. He joined Ontario Tech University (OTU), Canada, as Assistant Professor in 2004 and was promoted to Associate Professor and Professor in 2006 and 2011 respectively. During the appointment period in OTU, he also served as Founding Chair in the Department of Automotive, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (2012 – 2014) and was awarded the Canada Research Chair in Advanced Robotics and Automation (2009 – 2015). Since 2016, he transferred to York University, Canada as a Kaneff Professor and also took up the role of Department Chair in the Department of Mechanical Engineering from 2016 to 2018. Thereafter, he was awarded the Tier 1 York Research Chair in Advanced Robotics and Mechatronics in 2017.
      Professor Zhang's research interests include synthesis and optimization of parallel and hybrid mechanisms; generalized parallel mechanisms research; reconfigurable robots; innovation design of parallel robots: parallelization of serial robots; micro/nano manipulation and mems devices (e.g., sensors); rescue robots; smart biomedical instruments (e.g., exoskeleton robots and rehabilitation robotics); AI/robotics/autonomous systems; Aerial and Underwater Robotics; Artificial Intelligence for Robotics; intelligent reconfigurable adaptive landing gear and manipulator (manipulander).
      Professor Zhang is a well-accomplished educator and an internationally renowned expert in the areas of parallel robotic machines and their applications in manufacturing systems. His influential scientific contributions have led to novel robotic system designs and development of new comprehensive models for better understanding of globe stiffness and robotic calibrations. His research applications have tackled some of the world's most challenging problems in high dynamic performance manufacturing robotic systems. His leadership has resulted in significant contributions to the areas of robotics, mechatronics, reconfigurable/sustainable manufacturing systems and MEMS devices. His accomplishments have been recognized by many honors and awards including Canada Research Chair, Research Excellence Awards, Tier 1 York Research Chair, Lassonde Innovation Awards --- Established Researcher, Early Researcher Award by Ministry of Research and Innovation, Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE), Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC), Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and Fellow of the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering (CSME).
      Professor Zhang has published 266 journal papers and 190 conference papers, 12 books, 9 book chapters and numerous other technical publications. Professor Zhang has served as a General Chair for 69 International Conferences and delivered 122 keynote speeches. Professor Zhang is listed as the World’s Top Two Percent Researchers by Stanford’s Standardized Citation Indicators in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Prof. Shaoping Bai
(Keynote Speaker)

Aalborg University, Denmark

Keynote Lecture: Human-robot interaction design, sensing and control in wearable exoskeletons

Abstract: Wearable exoskeleton technologies are being advanced rapidly for broad applications. As a very typical system of human-robot interaction, the exoskeletons interaction with human users at all levels, including kinematic, physiological and cognatic levels, which requires theoretical and technological breakthroughs in biomechanical modeling, compliant actuation, human motion sensing and interaction control. This talk will provide a brief overview of wearable technology development at the Exoskeleton Lab, Aalborg University, addressing the research challenges in human-exoskeleton interaction. Novel designs, biomechanical simulations and sensing/control methods will be presented, along with application examples covering upper-limb, upper-limb, and hand exoskeletons.

Biography: Prof. Shaoping Bai is a full professor at the Department of Materials and Production, Aalborg University (AAU), Denmark and the founder of AAU startup BioX ApS. His research interests include wearable sensors, medical and assistive robots, and exoskeletons. He leads several national and international research projects in exoskeletons, including EU AXO-SUIT and IFD Grand Solutions project EXO-AIDER, and Danish Independent Research Council project VIEXO, among others. He is a recipient of IEEE CIS-RAM 2017 Best Paper Award, IFToMM MEDER 2018 Best Application Paper Award, WearRAcon2018 Grand Prize of Innovation Challenges, and 2023 IFToMM MESROB Best Student Paper Award. Prof. Bai was an associate editor of ASME J. of Mechanisms and Robotics， IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters， and MDPI Machines. He serves as an Executive Council member of the IFToMM and also a deputy chair of IFToMM Denmark.

Assoc. Prof. Xiaofeng Xiong
(Invited Speaker)

University of Southern Denmark, Denmark

Invited Lecture: Reverse-engineering biological movement control

Abstract:The ability to interact physically with complex environments is a hallmark of animals and humans, such as insect navigation and human manipulation (of flexible tools, e.g., whips). How they handle neural, muscle, and tool complexities is an interesting question, where robotics and computational neuroscience can mutually benefit from. In this talk, I will present how robots and neuromechanical models that can be used to provide novel hypotheses for insect navigation, human arm swings, and human manipulation of whips. It shows a way from machines for (uncovering) biological intelligence. Another way from biological to machine intelligence will be presented in insect-like walking and wearable robots (e.g., low-limb exoskeletons).

Biography: Xiaofeng Xiong, Associate Professor at Biorobotics Section, University of Southern Denmark (SDU). He has a Ph.D. degree in Computer Science, University of Göttingen, Germany. After Ph.D., he was a postdoc in Göttingen medical center and Hamburg University, respectively. His research focuses on bio-inspired robot control, neuromechanical modeling and control, variable impedance control, wearable robotics, and robot-inspired biology. The research results have been published in IEEE Trans. Cybernetics, Industrial Electronics, and Neural Networks, as well as awarded 4 international prizes such as Robot Innovation Award. He is a PI of two EU, six Danish and Nordic grants, and an Associate Editor and Editorial member of the journals Adaptive Behavior, Industrial Robot and conference IEEE RoboSoft 2023.

Prof. Ning Xi

IEEE Fellow

The University of Hong Kong, HKSAR, China

Prof. Michael Y. Wang

ASME,HKIE, IEEE Fellow

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, HKSAR, China

Prof. Makoto Iwasaki

IEEE, IEEJ, JSPE Fellow

Nagoya Institute of Technology, Japan

Prof. Fuchun Sun
IEEE Fellow

Tsinghua University, China

Prof.Jianwei Zhang

Universität Hamburg, Germany

Prof. Shane Xie

University of Leeds, UK

Prof. Zhengtao Ding

University of Manchester, UK

Prof. Zhidong Wang

Chiba Institute of Technology, Japan

Prof. Sean B. Andersson

Boston University, USA

Prof. Fumin Zhang

Georgia Institute of Technology, USA

Prof. Valentina Emilia Balas

Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, Romania

Prof. Qingshan Liu

Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, China

Prof. Guoqiang Hu

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore