Hongqiang Wang
Associate Professor
- Research Direction：
- novel actuators, medical robots, flexible robots, microrobots
- E-mail：
- wanghq6@sustech.edu.cn
- HomePage
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.
Wanglab official website: wanglab.mee.sustech.edu.cn
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.
Wanglab official website: wanglab.mee.sustech.edu.cn
Research Interest：
◆ Novel flexible actuation, impulsive actuation, and micro actuation
◆ Micro robot
◆ Medical robot
◆ Bioinspired robot
Employment：
◆ 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：
◆ 10/2011 - 06/2015 Ph.D. in Precision Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
◆ 09/2008-06/2011 M.S. in Mechatronics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
◆ 09/2004-06/2008 B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
Selected publications：
- A biologically inspired, flapping wing, hybrid aerial-aquatic microrobot
Yufeng Chen*, Hongqiang Wang, Elizabeth Farrell Helbling , Noah Jafferis , Raphael Zufferey4, Aaron Ong, Kevin Ma , Nicholas Gravish5, Pakpong Chirarattananon3, Mirko Kovac4, & Robert J. Wood*, Science Robotics, 2 (11), eaao5619.
- A Thin and Flexible Fully-electrostatic Inchworm Climbing Robot on a Vertical Surface
Hongqiang WANG, Akio Yamamoto, IEEE Transaction on robotics, 2017
- A Crawler Climbing Robot Integrating Electroadhesion and Electrostatic Actuation
Hongqiang Wang, Akio Yamamoto and Toshiro Higuchi. International Journal of Advanced Robotic System 2014, 11:191.
- Motion Planning based on Learning from Demonstration for Multiple-Segment Flexible Robots Actuated by Electroactive Polymers
Hongqiang WANG, JIE CHEN, Henry Y.K. Lau, Hongliang Ren, IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, 1(1), 391-398.
- Electrostatic-motor-driven Electroadhesive Robot
Hongqiang Wang, Akio Yamamoto, Higuchi T. 2012 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), IEEE, 2012, pp. 914-919.
- A Thin Electroadhesive Inchworm Climbing Robot Driven by an Electrostatic Film Actuator for Inspection in A Narrow Gap
Hongqiang Wang, Akio Yamamoto. 2013 IEEE International Symposium on Safety, Security, and Rescue Robotics (SSRR), IEEE, 2013, pp. 1-6.
- Peel force of Electrostatic Adhesion in Crawler-type Electrostatic Climbing Robots
Hongqiang Wang, Akio Yamamoto, 8th Asia-Pacific Symposium on Applied Electromagnetics and Mechnics (APSAEM), 2014, pp. 154-155
◆ Novel flexible actuation, impulsive actuation, and micro actuation
◆ Micro robot
◆ Medical robot
◆ Bioinspired robot
Employment：
◆ 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：
◆ 10/2011 - 06/2015 Ph.D. in Precision Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
◆ 09/2008-06/2011 M.S. in Mechatronics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
◆ 09/2004-06/2008 B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
Selected publications：
- A biologically inspired, flapping wing, hybrid aerial-aquatic microrobot
Yufeng Chen*, Hongqiang Wang, Elizabeth Farrell Helbling , Noah Jafferis , Raphael Zufferey4, Aaron Ong, Kevin Ma , Nicholas Gravish5, Pakpong Chirarattananon3, Mirko Kovac4, & Robert J. Wood*, Science Robotics, 2 (11), eaao5619.
- A Thin and Flexible Fully-electrostatic Inchworm Climbing Robot on a Vertical Surface
Hongqiang WANG, Akio Yamamoto, IEEE Transaction on robotics, 2017
- A Crawler Climbing Robot Integrating Electroadhesion and Electrostatic Actuation
Hongqiang Wang, Akio Yamamoto and Toshiro Higuchi. International Journal of Advanced Robotic System 2014, 11:191.
- Motion Planning based on Learning from Demonstration for Multiple-Segment Flexible Robots Actuated by Electroactive Polymers
Hongqiang WANG, JIE CHEN, Henry Y.K. Lau, Hongliang Ren, IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, 1(1), 391-398.
- Electrostatic-motor-driven Electroadhesive Robot
Hongqiang Wang, Akio Yamamoto, Higuchi T. 2012 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), IEEE, 2012, pp. 914-919.
- A Thin Electroadhesive Inchworm Climbing Robot Driven by an Electrostatic Film Actuator for Inspection in A Narrow Gap
Hongqiang Wang, Akio Yamamoto. 2013 IEEE International Symposium on Safety, Security, and Rescue Robotics (SSRR), IEEE, 2013, pp. 1-6.
- Peel force of Electrostatic Adhesion in Crawler-type Electrostatic Climbing Robots
Hongqiang Wang, Akio Yamamoto, 8th Asia-Pacific Symposium on Applied Electromagnetics and Mechnics (APSAEM), 2014, pp. 154-155