[CoMAR Group]

Compliant Mechanisms And Robotics (CoMAR) Group founded in Dec 2011

Lab Address: Mechatronics Lab, Electrical Building, UCC, Cork

Vision: Committed to be a lifelong mentor; Succeed through students'  sustained success

[Staff members]

Prof. Guangbo Hao (PI, Group director and founder)

[Associated honorable members] 

Dr. Xiuyun He (Senior Mechanical Engineer from Tyndall National Institue)

[Postdoc researchers]

Dr. Pongsiri Kuresangsai (Sep. 2024-Aug. 2026), Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship

Dr. Alberto Betti (Sep. 2026-Aug. 2028), Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship

[Research Assistants] 

Haiyang Li, Jun. 2016-Sep.2016

Haitong Liang, Apr. 2022-Aug. 2022

Alex Pentek, Jan. 2025-Mar. 2025

Siyuan Ye, Feb. 2025-Mar. 2025

Jiaxiang Zhu,  Feb. 2025-Mar. 2025

Supervised PhD students

1)       Prof. Haiyang Li, supported by IRSCET Embark PhD scholarship, for the thesis entitled “Approaches to the synthesis, modelling and optimization of spatial translational compliant parallel mechanisms”, Jan. 2013- Sep. 2016 (as main supervisor with co-supervisor: Dr. Richard Kavanagh). Associate Professor at Dalian University of Technology.

2)       Dr. George Joseph, supported by Tata and MaREI, for his thesis entitled “Ising Machines and Spiking Neural Networks: Non von-Neumann Computing Using Networks of Coupled Oscillators”, Jul. 2016-Oc. 2020 (co-supervised with Prof. Vikram Pakrashi at UCD). Senior Product Manager at Innatera Nanosystems, Delft.

3)       Dr. T.H. Fass, supported by SFI CDA, for the thesis entitled “Self-Assembling Magnetic Chains for Minimally-Invasive Surgery”, Feb. 2018-May. 2022 (co-supervised with Prof. Padraig Cantillon-Murphy). Deceased, final job as a Postdoc researcher at University of Twente.

4)       Dr. Haitong Liang, supported by Horizon 2020 EnABLES, for the thesis entitled “Ultra-low and Wide Bandwidth Vibrational Energy Harvesting Using a Statically Balanced Compliant Mechanism”, Jan. 2019-Mar. 2022 (as main supervisor with co-supervisor: Dr. Olszewski (Oskar) Zbigniew from Tyndall). Assistant Professor/Lecturer at Beijing Forestry University.

5)       Dr. Shiyao Li, supported by the CSC for four years, for the thesis entitled “Design and Analysis of Compliant Universal Joints and Compliant Continuum Robots”, Jan. 2019-24 May 2023 (as main supervisor with co-supervisor: Dr. Bill Wright). She is the first female PhD in Mechanical Engineering at UCC. Was a Postdoc Researcher at UCD under the supervision of Prof. Fengzhou Fang, now working at Shenyang Aerospace University as an Assistant Professor/Lecturer

6)       Dr. Yu-Hao Chang, visiting PhD student from National Chung Cheng University, supported by Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology, April 2021 for eight months. Senior Mechanical Engineer in Taiwan

7)       Dr. Yingjun Zhao, visiting PhD student from Shanghai University, supported by CSC, May 2021 to May 2022. Assistant Professor/Lecturer at University of Shanghai for Science and Technology.

8)       Dr. Pongsiri kuresangsai, visiting PhD student from Chiang Mai University, support by National Research Council of Thailand, Sep. 2021 to May 2022. IRC international (two-year) postdoc fellow at UCC.

9)       Dr. Pengyuan Zhao, visiting PhD student from CAS Shenyang Automation Institute, supported by CSC, Nov. 2021 to Oct. 2022. Assistant professor/Lecturer at University of Electronic Science and Technology of China.

10)    Dr. Omer Khalid, fully funded by Horizon 2020 Marie-Curie ITN grant for three years, for the thesis entitled “Techno-economic assessment for robotics-driven inspection of floating offshore wind farms”, Dec. 2020-Nov. 2024, (as main supervisor with co-supervisors: Dr. Cian Desmond). Commercial Analyst at ESB, UK.

11)    Dr. Jiaxiang Zhu, fully-funded by CSC-UCC scholarship for four years, for the thesis entitled “Design and Nonlinear Modelling of General Flexure Beams and Compliant Mechanisms”, Oct. 2020-28 Jan. 2025 (as main supervisor with co-supervisor: Dr. Denis Kelleher). Lecturer/Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering (permanent full time) at Aston University (UK) from 20th October 2025

12) Dr. Siyuan Ye, fully-funded by CSC-UCC scholarship for four years by the CSC, for the thesis entitled “Design, Modelling and Development of Origami-Inspired Tubular Compliant Mechanisms towards Radially Closable Applications”, Oct. 2020-17 Feb. 2025 (as main supervisor with co-supervisor: Dr. Fatemeh Kavousi). Postdoc Researcher at Southern University of Science and Technology (China).

13) Dr. Tinghao Liu, supported by Horizon 2020 EnABLES TA project and fully-funded CSC-UCC scholarship for 3 years, for the thesis entitled: “Nonlinear large-deformation modeling of planar compliant mechanisms and model-based design optimization”, Nov. 2021-Nov. 2025 (main supervisor). Postdoc Researcher at EIT (Ningbo) under the supervision of Prof. Ming Zhou.

14) Mr. Paddy McGowan, Sep. 2018-present, part-time PhD student fully supported by CIT/MTU Staff Doctorate Research grant (as main supervisor with co-supervisor: Dr. Bill Wright). Currently working in Munster Technological University as an assistant Lecturer.

15) Mr. Kong Zhang, Jul. 2022-present, fully funded by SEIA RemoteWind project for four years (as main supervisor with co-supervisors: Dr. Jimmy Murphy and Dr. Vikram Pakrashi)

16) Ms. Yiran Wang, Apr. 2023-present, partially funded by Enterprise Ireland micro-needle project (as main supervisor with co-supervisor: Dr. Xiuyun He)

17) Mr. Biaoliang Liu, Jul. 2023-present, fully funded by CSC-UCC scholarship for four years (as main supervisor with co-supervisor: Dr. Xiuyun He)

18) Mr. Yi Zhang, Sep. 2024-, funded by CSC-UCC scholarship for three years (as main supervisor with co-supervisor: Dr. Harry Nguyen)

19)    Mr. Zhenjie Shi, visiting PhD student from Shandong University, Sep. 2024-Sep. 2025.

20) Mr. Xin Zhang, visiting PhD student from Jiangnan University, Oct. 2025-Sep. 2026, supported by CSC.

21) Mr. Seyyed Masoud Kargar, PhD student at University of Genoa (co-supervised with Prof. Giovanni Berselli)

22) Ms. Jiayu Sun, visiting PhD student from Northeastern University, Jan. 2026-Jan. 2027, supported by CSC.

23) Mr. Sohrab Sepehri Amin, PhD student at University College Dublin (co-supervised with Prof. Vikram Pakrashi and Prof. Adam Boyce)

24) Mr. Zhiyuan Dai, Jul. 2025-present, (co-supervised with Dr. Zili Li)

25) Mr. Yixuan Yang, Sep. 2026- (as main supervisor with co-supervisor: Dr. Jimmy Murphy)

26) Mr. Lei Yan, visiting PhD student from South China University of Technology, Sep. 2026-Aug. 2027, supported by CSC.

Advised/mentored PhD/Postdoc researchers

27) Completed PhD student: Mohsin A Mazhar (UCC advisor)

28) Senior Postdoc: Dr. Matteo Menolotto (UCC mentor)

29) IRC two-year postdoc (international): Dr. Pongsiri Kuresangsai (academic mentor, starting from 1st Sep 2024)

30) Research Ireland two-year postdoc: Dr. Alberto Betti (academic mentor, starting from 1st Sep 2026)

Research Master students

31) Mr. Zhengyao Wang, Jul. 2024- Jul. 2025 (Thesis completed at UCC). PhD student at Trinity College Dublin

32) Mr. Zhengkai Jia, Apr. 2021-Apr. 2022, co-supervised with Prof. Frank Peters (Thesis completed at UCC)

33) Mr. Seyyed Masoud Kargar, Jan. 2021-Jul. 2022 (Thesis completed at UCC), PhD student at University of Genoa

34) Ms. Yingyue Chen, Jan. 2020-Apr. 2021 (Thesis completed at UCC)

35) Mr. Florian Maetz, supported by Erasmus from The École normale supérieure Paris-Saclay, Oct. 2020-Jul. 2021 (??)

36) Mr. Mario Roveroni supported by Erasmus from University of Padova, Feb. 2020- 31 Aug. 2020 (Thesis completed at UCC, full marks)

37) Mr. Loic Riegel supported by Erasmus from INSA Strasbourg, University of Strasbourg, Mar. 2020- 31 Jul. 2021 (Thesis completed at UCC)

38) Ms. Elena Petri supported by Erasmus from University of Padova, “Control of a two-axis nanopositioning system”, 2019/2020, co-supervised with Dr. Richard Kavanagh (Thesis completed at UCC, full Marks), PhD student at University of Padova

39) Mr. Ke Wu from Chongqing University/UCD, “Design of high-performance compliant translational joints”, 2018/2019 (CQU Research Thesis completed at UCC).

40) Mr. Aldo Marchi supported by Erasmus from University of Padova, “Improved control of a nano-positioning system”, 2017/2018, co-supervised with Dr. Richard Kavanagh (Thesis completed at UCC)

41) Mr. Riccardo Sandon supported by Erasmus from University of Padova, “Design and control of a nano-positioning system”, co-supervised with Dr. Richard Kavanagh, 2016/2017 (Thesis completed at UCC)

42) Ms. Fabiana Federica Ferro supported by Erasmus from University of Padova, “Control of a flexure-based single degree of freedom nano-positioning system”, 2015/2016, main supervisor with Dr. Richard Kavanagh as co-supervisor (Thesis completed at UCC), doing an industrial PhD at University of Padova

Taught MEngSc/ME students at UCC

43) Mr. Isaac James O'Sullivan, 2025/2026

44) Mr. David Varma, 2025/2026

45) Mr. Eoghan Noel O'Shaughness, 2023/2024 (Thesis completed)

46) Mr. Ramchandra Sanjay Badshesh, 2023/2024 (Thesis completed)

47) Mr. Niall Walsh, 2022/2023 (withdrawn)

48) Mr. Dominik Michael Herkommer, 2022/2023 (Thesis completed)

49) Mr. Paul Devouge, 2022/2023 (Thesis completed, Distinction Degree and Project), doing a PhD at Université Paris-Saclay

50) Mr. Luguang Cai, 2021/2022 (Thesis completed)

51) Mr. Tinghao Liu, 2020/2021 (Thesis completed), doing a PhD at UCC

52) Mr. Kiran Abbur Ramanna, 2020/2021 (Thesis completed)

53) Mr. Jordan Power, 2020/2021 (Thesis completed)

54) Mr. Shuwen Yu, 2020/2021 (Thesis completed, Distinction Degree and Project), doing a PhD at UCC

55) Mr. Rohan Shivajirao Powar, 2019/2020 (Thesis completed)

56) Mr. Rishabh Jain, 2019/2020 (Thesis completed)

57) Mr. Jiaxiang Zhu, 2018/2019 (Thesis completed, Distinction Degree and Project), doing a PhD at UCC

58) Mr. Haotian Duan, 2017/2018 (withdrawn)

59) Ms. Karen Anita Mcdonnell, 2016/2017 (Thesis completed)

60) Mr. Danny Morgan, 2015/2016 (Thesis completed)

61) Mr. Ravish Maghenthiran, 2014/2015 (Thesis completed)

62) Mr. Sanjeev Ramkumar, 2014/2015 (Thesis completed)

63) Mr. John Mullins, 2013/2014, (Thesis completed, Distinction Degree and Project)

64) Mr. Rajneesh Buragohain, 2013/2014 (Thesis completed)

65) Mr. Ronan Hand, 2013/2014 (Thesis completed)

66) Mr. Marc Murphy, 2013/2014 (Thesis completed)

Undergraduates for Final Year Projects:

1)   Mr. Jeo Rudden, “Actuation system development of a continuum robot”, 2024/2025

2)   Mr. Eoghan Dungan, “Cable Controlled Crane Design”, 2021/2022

3)   Mr. Mehdi Riza, “Design and Control of a tip-tilt-piston micro stage”, 2017/2018

4)   Mr. Jingqi Duan, “Design and analysis of tip-tilt-piston micro stages”, 2016/2017

5)   Mr. Cian Sexton, “Sensing of a plane-motion compliant robot”, 2016/2017

6)   Mr. Dawid Mozolewski, group project entitled “Sensing Technology for Nanometer Displacements”, co-supervised with Dr. Bill Wright, 2015/2016

7)   Mr. Kevin McCarthy, group project entitled “Sensing Technology for Nanometer Displacements”, co-supervised with Dr. Bill Wright, 2015/2016

8)   Mr. Sean Finn, group project entitled “Design of a bistable origami coronary stent”, 2015/2016

9)   Mr. Tim Farrell, group project entitled “Design of a bistable origami coronary stent”, 2015/2016

10) Mr. Darragh Sheehan, group project entitled “Closed-loop control of high-precision translator for bio-injection”, main supervisor with Dr. Richard Kavanagh as cosupervisor, 2014/2015

11) Mr. James Bergin, group project entitled “Closed-loop control of high-precision translator for bio-injection”, main supervisor with Dr. Richard Kavanagh as cosupervisor, 2014/2015

12) Mr. Hangchen Xue, group project entitled “Development of a planar high-precision compliant parallel manipulator for assisting teaching”, main supervisor with Dr. Richard Kavanagh as cosupervisor, 2014/2015.

13) Mr. Arturo Medina Merino, group project entitled “Development of a planar high-precision compliant parallel manipulator for assisting teaching”, main supervisor with Dr. Richard Kavanagh as cosupervisor, 2014/2015.

14) Mr. Shane Edmond O’Regan, group project entitled “AA Battery Size Renewable Energy Harvester”, co-supervised with Dr. Ningning Wang, 2013/2014.

15) Mr. Louis Sean Cronin, group project entitled “AA Battery Size Renewable Energy Harvester”, co-supervised with Dr. Ningning Wang, 2013/2014.

16) Mr. James Foody, his group project entitled “Low-Cost Under-Actuated Self-Adaptive Bionic Robotic Hand", 2012/2013 (marks 244/300), co-founder of Ayda, named Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur 2015.

17) Mr. Karl Maxwell, group project entitled “Low-Cost Under-Actuated Self-Adaptive Bionic Robotic Hand “, 2012/2013. (marks 243/300)

18) Mr. John Mullins, group project entitled “Development of an XY Compliant Parallel Manipulator”, 2012/2013 (marks 237/300)

19) Mr. Mark Bruton, group project entitled “Development of an XY Compliant Parallel Manipulator”, 2012/2013 (marks 240/300)

Visiting Professors

20) Prof. Salih Abdelaziz, Assistant Professor from LIRMM, University of Montpellier, France (August 2022-August 2023)

21) Dr. Yi Jing, Lecturer from Taiyuan University of Technology, China (Dec. 2021-Dec. 2022)

22) Prof. Jie Wang, Associate Professor from Liaoning Technical University, China (May 2022-May 2023)

23) Prof. Baokun Li, Professor from Anhui University of Science and Technology, China (Jul. 2017-Jun. 2018)

24) Prof. Yufei Liu, Professor from Chongqing University, China (Nov. 2015-May 2016)

25) Prof. Wei Wei, Professor from BTBU, China (Sep. 2013-Jan. 2014)

Short-term visiting students

26) Mr. Leo Gerlinger, Erasmus student from Sorbonne University, Paris, and University of Montpellier, France (30 July to 30 September 2024)

27) Ms. Mathilde Perron, Erasmus student from INSA Toulouse, France (July 15 to September 20 2024)

28) Mr. Haojun Liao, Research Master Student from Hangdian University, China (1st Jul.-30 Sep. 2019).

29) Mr. Hugo Stalin, fourth year engineer student from Ecole Centrale de Nantes, France. (2nd Apr.-24th Aug. 2018)

30) Mr. Heraldas Vaivada, UCC 2nd-year PCE student under the support of UCC Summer Bursary, (Jun.-Aug. 2017)

31) Mr. Jan Wehrmann, Erasmus student from HSB Hochschule Bremen, Germany (Oct. 2016- Feb. 2017)

32) Mr. Abhilash Nayak, PhD student, IRCCyN, École Centrale de Nantes, France (Aug.-Sep. 2016)

33) Mr. Luppino Jordan, Erasmus student from ENSICAEN, France (May 2016-August 2016)

34) Mr. Mehdi Riza, UCC 2nd-year EEE student under the support of UCC Summer (Jun.-Aug. 2016)

35) Mr. Suzen Kemalcan, Erasmus+ Traineeship student from Trakya University, Turkey (July 2015 to September 2015)

36) Mr. Yuan Hu (November 2014-June 2015)

37) Ms. Dishiti Gupta, SFI supported second-year undergraduate from National Institute of Technology Calicut, India (May to August 2014)

38) Mr. George Joseph, SFI supported third-year undergraduate from National Institute of Technology Calicut, India (May to August 2014)