Research

The research interests of our lab lie in the domain of electromagnetic field-based multi-target sensing, actuating and control, especially in emerging fields of intelligent manufacturing, smart sensing/actuators in robotics, and bioengineering.

Machine Perception Based on Eddy Current Testing for Intelligent Manufacturing

Smart sensing is a prerequisite to information sharing in intelligent manufacturing for process analysis and product quality control. Two methods are developed for real-time multi-parameter measurements, material property estimation and defect detection.

  • MFD based Multiparameter Eddy-Current Sensor Design

  • Physical Field Reconstruction/Visualization

Geomagnetic Field-enhanced Sensing for Visually Impaired Person Assistance

A novel sensing system integrating the information of geomagnetic fields, inertia and vision is developed to assist the visually impaired person for indoor/outdoor navigation, obstacle avoidance and object grabbing.

Design of Permanent-Magnet Actuators with Multiple Degree of Freedoms (DOFs)

A ball-joint-like brushless permanent-magnet spherical motor (PMSM) with 3 DOFs is designed. Compared to traditional motor design with multiple DOF motions, this design has the characteristics as followed:

  • Sensor fusion for Multi-DOF motion measurement

  • Fabrication using additive manufacturing (AM) technologies

  • Halback layout of rotor PMs

Electromagnetic Neural Stimulation based on Distributed-parameter Modeling

Different from traditional methods using electrodes attached to skins or implanted into bodies, electromagnetic fields can stimulate the target neural tissues wirelessly and contactless without surgical implantation. Two potential applications are as followed:

  • Retinal electromagnetic stimulation

  • Improved Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)