Associate Professor(Tenure) Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering
Actuators are the primary basis in machines. They fundamentally determine the functions of machines and potentially affect their applications, and therefore, promote symbolic social progress (e.g., steam engines for the age of steam and electric motors for the age of electricity). Nowadays, however, the weakness and inadequacy of vastly used electromagnetic motors are impeding the technology progress in at least three significant fields: 1) for medical robots, actuators possessing satisfactory performances, e.g., compact size, high accuracy, and large stroke, remain to be developed; 2) bioinspired robots, particularly insect-inspired ones that limit by current actuators, are still not comparable to their natural counterparts regarding agility, robustness, and strength; 3) humanoid robots with conventional motors are not friendly enough to human collaborators, and soft, powerful, efficient, and accurately controllable actuators are highly desired.
To fundamentally address these problems, we have been exploring new approaches by rethinking basic principles and structures of actuators, and hence, implementing novel actuators distinguished from the conventional ones. Electrostatic actuation has drawn our vital interests due to its favorable features such as scalability, flexibility, lightweight, and low profile. We implemented a series of electrostatic film actuators and, by exploiting them, developed various robots with unique features (e.g., ultra-thin flexible climbing robots). We have also studied other actuation methods, such as flexible ionic polymer-metal composites for dexterous manipulators and an explosive actuator with a considerably high force-to-weight ratio for insect-scale water-air hybrid flying robots. In our future work, we will continue with this research methodology to implement more desirable novel actuators by exploring the basic physic principles and utilize them to build distinctive and valuable robots.
Email: wanghq6@sustech.edu.cn
Homepage: wanglab.mee.sustech.edu.cn
Research Areas:
◆ Electrostatic film actuators
◆ Electrostatic adhesion
◆ Ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC)
◆ Climbing robot
◆ Micro robot
◆ Surgical robot
Experiences:
◆ 2021.1~,Associate Professor, Dept. of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology.
◆ 2018.9~2020.12,Assistant Professor, Dept. of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology.
◆ 2015.10~2018.9,Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Harvard University, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Wyss Institute.
Education:
◆ 2011.10~2015.06,PhD, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
◆ 2008.09~2011.07,Master, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
◆ 2004.09~2008.07,Bachelor, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
Honors and Awards:
◆ 2021: Shenzhen “Peacock Plan” Overseas High-level Class B Talent
◆ 2021: Shuren College “Outstanding College Mentor”
◆ 2023: SUSTech Inaugural “Outstanding Mentor and Friend” for Graduate Students
◆ 2023: 5th “Xiong Youlun Zhihu Outstanding Young Scholar Award”
Selected Publications:
-Wang, H., York, P., Chen, Y., Russo, S., Ranzani, T., Walsh, C., & Wood, R. J. (2021). Biologically inspired electrostatic artificial muscles for insect-sized robots. The International Journal of Robotics Research, 40(6-7), 895-922.
-Fan, D., Yuan, X., Wu, W., Zhu, R., Yang, X., Liao, Y., … Wang, H.,& Qin, P. (2022). Self-shrinking soft demoulding for complex high-aspect-ratio microchannels. Nature Communications, 13(1), 5083.
-Xiong, Q., Liang, X., Wei, D., Wang, H., Zhu, R., Wang, T., … & Wang, H. (2022). So-EAGlove: VR Haptic Glove Rendering Softness Sensation With Force-Tunable Electrostatic Adhesive Brakes. IEEE Transactions on Robotics, 38(6), 3450-3462.
-Xie, G., Fan, D., Wang, H., Zhu, R., Mao, J., & Wang, H. (2023). Strong Reliable Electrostatic Actuation Based on Self-Clearing Using a Thin Conductive Layer. Soft Robotics.
-Wei, D., Xiong, Q., Dong, J., Wang, H., Liang, X., Tang, S., Zhang, Y., Wang, H., & Wang, H. (2022). Electrostatic Adhesion Clutch with Superhigh Force Density Achieved by MXene-Poly (Vinylidene Fluoride–Trifluoroethylene–Chlorotrifluoroethylene) Composites. Soft Robotics.
Personal Profile
Dr. Hongqiang Wang joined the Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering at Southern University of Science and Technology as an Assistant Professor in September 2018. He received his Doctor degree from the University of Tokyo, Japan, in 2015. After graduation, he became a Research Fellow supervised by Prof. Hongliang Ren in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and SINAPSE, National University of Singapore, Singapore, working on flexible manipulators. From 2015 to 2018, he worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Wyss Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA. The main results include: 1) the world's thinnest flexible climbing robot; 2) millimeter-scale ultra-thin, long-stroke electrostatic motor; 3) bee flying robot that can freely cross the water-air interface (reported by BBC, Forbes Radio, Science News, and many other media).
Email: wanghq6@sustech.edu.cn
Research Areas:
◆ Electrostatic film actuators
◆ Electrostatic adhesion
◆ Ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC)
◆ Climbing robot
◆ Micro robot
◆ Surgical robot
Experiences:
◆ 2021.1~,Associate Professor, Dept. of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology.
◆ 2018.9~2020.12,Assistant Professor, Dept. of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology.
◆ 2015.10~2018.9,Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Harvard University, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Wyss Institute.
Education:
◆ 2011.10~2015.06,PhD, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
◆ 2008.09~2011.07,Master, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
◆ 2004.09~2008.07,Bachelor, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
Honors and Awards:
◆ 2019,Shenzhen ”Peacock Project”
◆ 2020,Pearl River Talent Program-Top-notch Talent
Papers:
Research
◆ Electrostatic film actuators
◆ Electrostatic adhesion
◆ Novel actuators
◆ Climbing robot
◆ Micro robot
◆ Surgical robot
Teaching
1.Advanced actuation for robots.This course introduces to students the basic structure, principle and working characteristics of common and cutting-edge actuators in robotics, including electromagnetic motor, soft pneumatic actuator, hydraulic driver, piezoelectric motor, electrostatic actuator, shape memory alloy, ion-exchange polymer metal composite (IPMC) and dielectric elastomer, etc. This course committed to educating students with knowledge of the driving technologies mentioned above, to design and analyse basic actuators, to further master the calculation methods of the key parameters of common actuators, and finally, to select the appropriate actuators in the process of robot design. This course also aims to foster the capability of innovation and academic writing and presentation, by develop new actuators from the basic principles.
2.Fundamentals of Machine Design.The primary objective of this course is to give an overall introduction to the theories of mechanisms and principles of machine design. In the first part, the kinematic and kinetic analysis and design of mechanisms will be introduced to provide the students with the ability to conduct analysis and design of some common mechanisms. The second part of this course is focusing on generally used machine elements and mechanical drives to cultivate the students with the ability to correctly select the machine elements and to conduct maintenance of mechanical drives. Moreover, a project based workshop will be conducted to facilitate the understanding of the theories, principles, and mechanisms. Moreover, students’ relevant visualization, hands-on skills and team cooperation skills will be reinforced through project virtual prototyping and/or physical construction exercises.
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Prof. Hongqiang WANG , received his PhD degree in Precision Engineering Department of the University of Tokyo, focusing on the design and analyses on electrostatic film actuators and electro-adhesion and their application to climbing robots. Then, he was a Postdoctoral Researcher in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Wyss Institute, Harvard University, working on novel actuators and their applications to soft robots and micro robots.
Research Assistant Professorship position
Qualifications
The candidates should hold a PhD degreein related majors, such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, biomedical and biological engineering, material engineering, physics or chemistry. Research experience in soft robots, soft actuators, new driving modes, stretchable materials is preferred.
Postdoctoral work experience in overseas or domestic research universities or research institutions or higher-level scientific research work for more than 2 years.
Published more than two papers as the first author in mainstream SCI journals in related fields.
Able to conduct scientific researches on relevant field directions of the group.
Ability to identify and solve problems.
Job responsibilities
Assist the PI and participate in the project researches of the group.
Complete the research of the project and publish peer-reviewed papers on top journals in relevant fields.
Apply for research funding to support research projects.
Assist in supervising students.
Benefits
The candidate will be offered an attractive salary (no less than 320K CNY per year, before tax) and benefits package that will be dependent on experience. The benefits including housing & dining stipends and festival bonus, plus contributions to superannuation, medical insurance, etc.; Negotiable according to the applicant’s background.
Eligible to apply for the National Natural Science Foundation of China and other national, provincial and municipal projects.
Postdoctoral position:
Qualifications:
The postdoctoral candidate should hold a PhD degreein related majors, such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, biomedical and biological engineering, material engineering, physics or chemistry. Research experience in soft robots, soft actuators, new driving modes, stretchable materials is preferred.
The first author or corresponding author of 2 or more high level English papers in the above research direction or similar research direction is preferred.
The candidate should have a solid mathematical foundation and a passion for scientific research, be capable of independent thinking with innovative spirit.
Benefits
The positions are for two years initially.
Annual salary is335 thousand CNY, including housing & dining stipends and festival bonus, plus contributions to superannuation, medical insurance, etc..
Outstanding candidates can apply for the Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship with annual salary of 400KCNY;
A travel grant of 25KCNY in two years for attending academic conferences and workshops, etc.
Eligible to apply for the National Natural Science Foundation of China and other national, provincial and municipal projects.
Qualified applicants can apply for "Guangdong overseas young postdoctoral program", with a total funding of 600k RMB for 2 years. Further support of 400KCNY might be available depending on the qualifications.
To Apply:
Please send your statement, research plan, CV (should include research experience and interests, as well as a list of two referrals) to Dr. Wang at wanghq6@sustech.edu.cn.