Prof. Xianping Fu
(Keynote Speaker)

Dalian Maritime University, China

Keynote Lecture: Multimodal Perception Technology for Underwater Robots

Abstract: To address the challenges faced by underwater robots during autonomous operation—such as the degradation of optical information, difficulty in target feature recognition, insufficient environmental and state perception, and limited autonomous localization capability—this research focuses on multimodal perception technologies including polarization, imaging, multispectral analysis, sensors, and SLAM. The goal is to enhance the robot's ability to perceive the environment, targets, posture, and operational processes, thereby providing key support for underwater observation, localization, and autonomous operation.

Biography: Fu Xianping is currently serves as the Dean of the School of Information Science and Technology at Dalian Maritime University. He is the leading academic figure of the first-level discipline of Computer Science and Technology, Director of the Liaoning Provincial Engineering Research Center for Underwater Robots, and Head of the Liaoning Provincial High-Level Innovation and Entrepreneurship Team. He has been recognized as an Excellent Talent of Liaoning Province, a Famous Teacher of Liaoning Province, a Dalian Leading Talent, and an Outstanding Graduate Supervisor. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Tsinghua University and Harvard University, and an RPB International Research Scholar in the United States. Professor Fu has led and completed over 30 national, provincial, and ministerial-level scientific research projects. He has published more than 130 papers and filed over 50 patents. His honors include the Second Prize of the National Excellent Teaching Achievement Award, the Gold Award at the 7th International Invention Expo, and the First Prize of the Liaoning Provincial Excellent Teaching Achievement Award, among others.

Prof. Chiharu Ishii
(Keynote Speaker)

Hosei University, Japan

Keynote Lecture: Musculoskeletal Model Analysis for the Effect of Power Assist Suits

Abstract: In this talk, musculoskeletal model analysis for the effect of power assist suits, in other words exoskeletons or powered suits, using musculoskeletal model software “AnyBody Modeling System” is discussed. First, “Musculoskeletal Model Analysis of Assist Device for Overhead Work in the Presence of Headrest” is explained. The effect of headrest for reducing burden on the neck when performing overhead work was investigated based on static analysis and dynamic analysis. Second, “Musculoskeletal Model Analysis for Underwater Assist Suit” is explained. In marine civil engineering, divers get heavy burdens on their body under the sea. Therefore, in our previous study, the assist suit which can be used underwater was developed to reduce the burden on the elbow joint of divers. The influence of the underwater assist suit on the divers’ body was analyzed using the musculoskeletal model analysis software “AnyBody Modeling System”.

Biography: Chiharu Ishii received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Sophia University, Japan in 1997. He worked at Ashikaga Institute of Technology between 1997 and 2002, at Kogakuin University between 2002 and 2009, and at Shibaura Institute of Technology between 2009 and 2010. He has been working at Hosei University since 2010, and currently working as a Professor with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering at Hosei University. Dr. Chiharu Ishii has received several awards such as The Best Paper Award in the area of Tactile and Haptic Interfaces at the 4th International Conference on Human System Interaction (IEEE HSI 2011); Best Paper Award at the 1st International Conference on Computer Science, Electronics and Instrumentation (ICCSE 2012); Best Presentation Award at the International Conference on Intelligent Mechatronics and Automation (ICIMA 2013); Excellent Oral Presentation Award at the 4th International Conference on Soft Computing & Machine Intelligence (ISCMI 2017); 3rd Prize, Excellent Paper Award at the 2021 IEEE 3rd Global Conference on Life Sciences and Technologies (LifeTech 2021). He is currently a member of IEEE, SICE, JSME, RSJ, IEEJ and JSCAS. His research interests are in medical robotics, assistive technology and robust control.

Prof. Demetri Terzopoulos
(Keynote Speaker)

IEEE Fellow

University of California，Los Angeles, USA

Keynote Lecture: Biomimetic Human Simulation With Deep Learning of Neuromuscular and Sensorimotor Control

Abstract: Realistic computer simulation of the human body — not just the bones, joints, and muscles, but also the sensory organs and, of course, the brain — is a grand scientific challenge in the quest for artificial intelligence/life. In this context, I will present our advances in biomimetic human simulation and sensorimotor control. Our framework features an unprecedentedly detailed biomechanical human musculoskeletal model actuated by more than 800 muscles, with func-tional eyes whose retinas have numerous nonuniformly-distributed photoreceptors. This bio-inspired perceptual apparatus feeds the sensorimotor center of our virtual human’s brain, which currently incorporates two dozen (deep) neural networks, organized as a neurovisual sensory subsystem that drives a neuromuscular motor subsystem. Synthesizing its own motor and visu-al training data, our autonomous virtual human learns efficient and robust active visuomotor control of its eyes, head, torso, and limbs to perform a variety of nontrivial sensorimotor tasks never previously achieved in realistic biomechanical human simulations or anthropomimetic robotics.

Biography: Demetri Terzopoulos is a Distinguished Professor and Chancellor’s Professor of Computer Science at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he directs the UCLA Computer Graphics & Vision Laboratory. He received his PhD degree in Artificial Intelligence from MIT in 1984. He is a Guggenheim Fellow, a Fellow of the ACM, a Life Fellow of the IEEE, a Fellow of the National Academy of Artificial Intelligence, a Fellow of the Royal Society of London and the Royal Society of Canada, and a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, among other societies internationally. His many awards include an Academy Award for Technical Achievement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in addition to the IEEE’s Computer Pioneer Award, Helmholtz Prize, inaugural Marr Prize citation, and inaugural Computer Vision Distinguished Researcher Award. He joined UCLA in 2005 from New York University, where he held the Henry and Lucy Moses Endowed Professorship in Science and was Professor of Computer Science and Mathematics at NYU's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. Previously, he was Professor of Computer Science and Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Toronto. He is Co-founder and Chief Scientist of VoxelCloud, Inc., a multinational healthcare AI company.

Prof. Qingsong Xu
(Keynote Speaker)

FIEEE, FASME, FAAIA

University of Macau, China

Keynote Lecture: Development of Flexible Microrobots for Precision Biomedical Applications

Abstract: A flexible microrobot has a flexible structure or operation, which is essential for performing precision micromanipulation and force interaction tasks by interacting with the environment. Flexible-structure microrobots transmit displacement and force via elastic deformation of the materials. Compliant microrobot end-effectors and flexible micromanipulators are two kinds of tools that must meet strict standards for robotic handling with contact force regulation. Flexible-function microrobots can perform dexterous manipulations of target micro-objects with delicate contact force regulation and environmental force resistance. This presentation will report on our recent development of flexible microrobots for precision biomedical applications. It ranges from compliant robotic micromanipulators for biological cell micromanipulation, magnetic soft catheter robots for vascular intervention, and untethered magnetic microrobots for precision therapy. These flexible microrobotic systems will enable many applications to enhance human health via precision medical treatment. The challenging problems will be addressed, and future work will be discussed.

Biography: Dr. Qingsong Xu is a Professor at the Department of Electromechanical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, and Director of the Smart and Micro/Nano Systems Laboratory. His research involves intelligent micro/nanosystems, precision robotics, and biomedical applications. He has published four books and over 470 papers in international journals and conferences, cited more than 15000 times in Google Scholar with an H-index of 70. He was an Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Robotics (T-RO), IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering (T-ASE) and IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (RA-L), and a Technical Editor of IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics (T-MECH). Prof. Xu has received more than a dozen best paper awards from international conferences and multiple times of Macao Science and Technology Awards from Macao SAR, China. He has been selected into the top 2% of the world's top scientists released by Stanford University since 2019. He is a Fellow of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Fellow of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and Fellow of the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (AAIA).

Prof. Hongliang Ren
(Keynote Speaker)

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), HKSAR, China

Keynote Lecture: Endoluminal Robotics & Embodied AI in vivo

Abstract: Minimally Invasive Surgeries (MIS) emerging in modern medical treatment have brought new opportunities and challenges for procedure-specific surgical motion generation and the associated motion understanding, which are the foundation of intelligent robotic manipulation and guiding interventions. Image-guided robotic surgery is expected to increase the precision, flexibility, and repeatability of surgical procedures but poses challenges for system development. This talk will highlight our recent developments in dexterous robotic motion generation with motion perception towards intelligent image-guided minimally invasive procedures. The procedure-specific telerobotic surgical systems can assist surgeons in performing dexterous manipulations using continuum motion generation mechanisms with variable stiffness and context awareness.

Biography: Prof. Hongliang Ren received his Ph.D. in Electronic Engineering (Specialized in Biomedical Engineering) from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) in 2008. He has served as an Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Automation Science & Engineering (T-ASE) and Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing (MBEC). He has navigated his academic journey through Chinese University of Hong Kong, Johns Hopkins University, Children’s Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Children’s National Medical Center, United States, and National University of Singapore (NUS).

His areas of interest include biorobotics, intelligent control, medical mechatronics, soft continuum robots, soft sensors, and multisensory learning in medical robotics. He is the recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (Scheme A), CUHK Young Researcher Award, NUS Young Investigator Award and Engineering Young Researcher Award, IAMBE Early Career Award 2018, Interstellar Early Career Investigator Award 2018, ICBHI Young Investigator Award 2019, and Health Longevity Catalyst Award 2022 by NAM & RGC, Best Paper Awards in IEEE-ROBIO (2019 & 2013), IEEE-RCAR2016, IEEE-CCECE2015, IEEE-Cyber2014 among 30+ other prestigious awards.

He has been constantly listed among the world’s top 2% of the most-cited scientists by Stanford University in the career-long category. He has published over 240 papers, accumulating more than 22,770 citations and achieving an H-index of 75.

Prof. Nan Ma
(Keynote Speaker)

Beijing University of Technology, China

Keynote Lecture: Embodied Interactive Intelligence Towards Autonomous Driving

Abstract:Autonomous driving is inseparable from the intelligent interaction between vehicles to vehicles, vehicles to roads as well as vehicles to humans, and should have good embodied AI. However, in practical scenarios, people are often unclear about autonomous driving behavior and do not understand the decisions it makes, especially for the lack of cognition of autonomous driving interaction in complex and uncertain environments, and it is difficult for autonomous vehicles to reach synergy with human intentions. In recent years, our team has proposed a series of intelligent interaction methods for autonomous vehicles with human-vehicle-road collaboration, and carried out multi-channel cross-modal perception and behavior understanding research. Interactive, learnable and self-growth are the hard core of the new generation of intelligent machines, and "Autonomous Driving + Interactive Cognition" will make autonomous vehicles become interactive wheeled robots to better serve human beings.

Biography: Ma Nan is a Chang Jiang Scholar of the Ministry of Education and a Young Beijing Scholar, the vice dean of the School of Information Science and Technology, PhD Supervisor, the Deputy Director of Engineering Research Center of Intelligence Perception and Autonomous Control, Ministry of Education, the leader of National Key R&D Progrssssam, and the team leader of National First-class Undergraduate Courses "Intelligent Interaction Technology". She serves as the Deputy Secretary General of China Artificial Intelligence Society and the Secretary-General of its Education Working Committee. She is a CCF/CSIG Distinguished Membership, the head of the Beijing Intelligent Manufacturing and Robotics Innovation Project, leading talent of the "Phoenix Plan" in Chaoyang District of Beijing. Her research interests lie in interactive cognition, embodied AI, autonomous driving and mobile robot. She also serves as an editorial board member for domestic and international academic journals and as a reviewer for international conferences and journals, such as CVPR, etc. She has visited and studied in some countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia as a visiting scholar. In recent years, she has been invited to serve as an expert in evaluating many national, provincial and ministerial projects.