[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)

[Research Assistants] 

Haiyang Li, Jun. 2016-Sep.2016

Haitong Liang, Apr.-Aug. 2022

Alex Pentek, Jan. 2025-Mar. 2025

Siyuan Ye, 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 (main supervisor with co-supervisor: Dr. Richard Kavanagh). Now working as an 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). Now working as a Product Architect Staff 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). 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 (main supervisor with co-supervisor: Dr. Olszewski (Oskar) Zbigniew from Tyndall). Working as an Assistant Professor/Lecturer at Beijing Forestry University.

5)       Dr. Shiyao Li, supported by the CSC, for the thesis entitled “Design and Analysis of Compliant Universal Joints and Compliant Continuum Robots”, Jan. 2019-24 May 2023 (main supervisor with co-supervisor: Dr. Bill Wright). She is the first female PhD in Mechanical Engineering at UCC. Working as a Postdoc Researcher at UCD with Prof. Fengzhou Fang (President of CIRP and Fellow of RIA).

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

7)       Dr. Yingjun Zhao, visiting PhD student from Shanghai University, supported by CSC starting from May 2021 to May 2022. Working as an 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 from Sep. 2021 to May 2022. Working as an IRC international Postdoc fellow at UCC.

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

10) Dr. Omer Khalid, Dec. 2020-Nov. 2024, fully funded by Horizon 2020 Marie-Curie ITN grant for three years (main supervisor with co-supervisors: Dr. Cian Desmond et al). Now working in ESB as a Commercial Analyst.

11)    Dr. Jiaxiang Zhu, Oct. 2020-Jan. 2025, fully funded by CSC-UCC scholarship for four years (main supervisor with co-supervisor: Dr. Denis Kelleher). About to join Aston University as a Lecturer (permanent)/Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering.

12)    Dr. Siyuan Ye, Oct. 2020-Feb. 2025, fully funded by CSC-UCC scholarship for four years by the CSC (main supervisor with co-supervisor: Dr. Fatemeh Kavousi). Postdoc at Southern University of Science and Technology

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

14)    Mr. Tinghao Liu, Nov. 2021-present, supported by Horizon 2020 EnABLES TA project and fully funded by CSC-UCC scholarship for 3 years (main supervisor with co-supervisors: Dr. Erich Wehrle from Collins Aerospace)

15)    Mr. Kong Zhang, Jul. 2022-present, fully funded by SEIA for four years (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 (main supervisor with co-supervisor: Dr. Xiuyun He from Tyndall)

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

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

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

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

Advised/mentored PhD/Postdoc

22)    Completed PhD student: Mohsin A Mazhar (advisor)

23)    Current Senior Postdoc: Matteo Menolotto (UCC mentor)

24)   Pongsiri Kuresangsai (academic mentor, starting from 1st Sep 2024)

Research master students

25)    Mr. Zhengyao Wang, Jul. 2024- Jul. 2025,

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

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

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

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

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

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

32)    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), doing a PhD at University of Padova

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

34)    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)

35)    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)

36)    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

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

38)    Mr. Ramchandra Sanjay Badshesh, 2023/2024

39)    Mr. Niall Walsh 2022/2023 (withdrawn)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Undergraduates for Final Year Projects:

59)    Mr. Eoghan Dungan, 2021/2022

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

67)    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

68)    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

69)    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.

70)    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.

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

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

73)    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.

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

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

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

Visiting Professors

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

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

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

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

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

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

Short-term visiting students

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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