ISD Seminar 2026 Fall

Simulation Is Back: Scaling Contact-Rich, Long-Horizon Manipulation

Prof. SHI, Fan

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
National University of Singapore

Date: September 21
Time: 13:30–14:30
Location: Rm 4621

Speaker Bio

Fan Shi is an Assistant Professor at the National University of Singapore, where he holds the prestigious NUS Presidential Young Professorship. His research lies at the intersection of artificial intelligence and robotics, with a focus on physical simulation, robot learning, and the development of scalable methods for embodied intelligence. His work has been recognized through awards and support from leading organizations, including the NVIDIA Academic Grant Program, Google Research, and the Swiss AI Initiative.

Abstract

Robot learning fundamentally depends on access to abundant, high-quality, and low-cost data. Humanoid robots present unique challenges and opportunities—combining locomotion over rigid terrains (mostly) with manipulation of diverse, often deformable, objects. While synthetic data has driven remarkable progress in locomotion through deep reinforcement learning, manipulation remains limited by data scarcity and simulation fidelity. In this talk, I will discuss our recent advances in simulation technology inspired by our breakthroughs in computer graphics, aimed at enabling more effective humanoid learning for complex loco-manipulation tasks. Our new simulation engine delivers significant improvements in both speed and accuracy for deformable object dynamics, unlocking a wide range of contact-rich tasks previously deemed infeasible. I will conclude by outlining how these advances may shape the next frontier of humanoid intelligence, where realistic synthetic data bridges the gap between simulation and the real world.

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My journey from architectural design to digital fabrication to construction robotics and beyond.

Prof. LEUNG, Pok Yin Victor

School of Creative Media
City University of Hong Kong

Date: September 28, 2026
Time: 13:30–14:30
Location: Rm 4621

Speaker Bio

Victor Leung is a researcher, educator, and maker working at the intersection of art, technology, and architecture. Victor’s practice focuses on robotic fabrication, computational design, and developing custom machines, tools, and end effectors for creative production. Victor is an Assistant Professor at the School of Creative Media, where he teaches courses on interactive machines, computational design, and digital fabrication.

Central to his work is a belief that automation should serve to enhance human potential, not replace it. While much of his research focuses on advancing the precision and complexity of robotic fabrication, its broader aim is to address a persistent issue in society: the burden of repetitive, physically taxing labour. Industries like construction and manufacturing are still marked by tedious, manual work that limits human potential. By enabling machines to take on these repetitive roles, human intelligence can focus on higher-level, creative, and problem-solving tasks. In this way, automation is not a threat but as an opportunity to reshape our relationship with work and, ultimately, to design better environments for ourselves.

Victor holds a Doctor of Science from ETH Zurich, where he developed new methods for robotic timber assembly using distributed robotic tools. His research explored how the design-to-assembly process can be transformed through robotics, addressing challenges like high assembly forces, precise alignment, and the simultaneous closure of integral timber joints. This work contributed to broader conversations on non-repetitive robotic assembly and earned recognition, including the Best Paper Award at CAADRIA 2021. Victor also completed a Master of Science in Architectural Studies (Design and Computation) at MIT and a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies at the University of Hong Kong. His experience spans technical consulting for digital artists and architects, contributing to kinetic installations, custom robotic machines, and 3D-printed structures exhibited at venues such as the Venice Biennale and Science Gallery Melbourne. He has taught digital fabrication, computational design, and robotic assembly at institutions including ETH Zurich, MIT, the University of Hong Kong, the Singapore University of Technology and Design, and workshops at international venues such as the AA Visiting School and the ACADIA conference. He believes in hands-on, curiosity-driven learning, encouraging students to engage with the tools and technologies that shape our built environment.

Abstract

The talk is a sharing session of my academic journey from HKU to MIT to ETH and how one project leads to another. Reflecting on my recent exhibition of showing a molten-sugar 3D printer that continued from a prototype I made more than 10 years ago. 

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Computational Innovation for Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing

Prof. FANG，Guoxin

Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Date: October 5
Time: 13:30–14:30
Location: Rm 4621

Speaker Bio

Dr. Guoxin Fang is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He received his Ph.D. degree in Design Engineering from Delft University of Technology, Netherlands, in 2022. He also holds a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Beijing Institute of Technology, which he obtained in 2016. Prior to joining CUHK, he worked as a Postdoctoral research associate in digital manufacturing at the University of Manchester, UK. Dr. Fang’s research focuses on the development of computational techniques to advance manufacturing and robotic systems. He has published over 40 research works in the fields of digital manufacturing, computational design, and robotics. Dr. Fang’s research has been recognized with several awards, including the Best Paper Award at the 2022/2025 SIGGRAPH Asia Conference and the Best Paper Award at the ASME IDETC-CIE 2023 conference. He is a member of ASME, IEEE, ACM (SIGGRAPH), and serves as a committee member of the Symposium on Solid & Physical Modeling (SPM) and the ASME Computers and Information in Engineering (CIE) Division.

Abstract

Computational innovation is now shaping the future of intelligent robotics and advanced manufacturing. In this talk, I will present our recent developments at the Computational Robotics and Manufacturing Lab (CRML), CUHK in two interconnected areas. First, I will introduce how advanced computation in both design/fabrication/control drives intelligent robotic manipulation, including rigid–soft robotic systems, intuitive teleoperation, and autonomous navigation. Second, I will discuss advances in additive manufacturing with the help of computational system, where computational methods for curved-layer slicing, toolpath generation, and path-constrained motion planning enable support-free fabrication and precise material deposition on complex three-dimensional geometries. Together, these developments illustrate how computation can bridge robot intelligence and manufacturing processes, enabling those systems to perceive, plan, adapt, and create increasingly complex environments.

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Soft electronics for robust physiological sensing

Prof. LI, Jiyu

Department of Biomedical Engineering
Sun Yat-Sen University

Date: November 5
Time: 14:00–15:00
Location: Rm 2405

Speaker Bio

Dr. Jiyu Li is currently an Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Sun Yat-Sen University. Jiyu Li’s research group focuses on skin-integrated electronics, flexible electronics and microfluidics. He received his BS degree from Sun Yat-sen University in 2014, and his Ph.D. from City University of Hong Kong in 2021. He has published 54 papers in Nature and Science Advances, Advanced Science etc., and held 5 patents. Dr. Jiyu Li serves as the director of Flexible Medical Electronics team at SYSU, and co-editor-in-chief of the book “Soft Electronics for Diagnosis, Therapy and Interaction” published by Wiley, and a guest editor of the SCI journal Biosensors. His winning awards such as the 2023 Geneva Invention Gold Medal, the first place in the 2023 FinTech Olympiad Competition and the Outstanding Award of Hong Kong Techathon. He has also received the NSFC Excellent Young Scientist Grant (Overseas) and his products were selected for the Green Fintech Map.

Abstract

Robust physiological monitoring under dynamic conditions is essential for wearable healthcare. Yet miniaturized flexible electronics suffer from pronounced interference in complex environments dominated by multi-field coupling. Soft-interface engineering offers an appealing path to decouple interfering physical fields and amplify target physiological signals. We report a universal thermal management strategy using an ultrathin, soft radiative cooling interface (USRI). Integrating radiative and non-radiative heat transfer, the interface achieves >56 °C cooling, conferring superior immunity of skin electronics to external thermal disturbances. Further, we implement a 3D directional sweat transport strategy through structure-device integration. A gradient-hydrophilic substrate accelerates sweat transport by 4000-fold, enhancing the comfort of ECG sensors and supporting high-quality 7-day continuous ECG monitoring. These approaches realize long-term stable wearable sensing. This study presents a physical decoupling strategy for robust soft biosensing and advances the development of multi-modal, high-power-density thin-film vital-sign devices for real-world health applications.

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Multimodal Intelligent Biointerfaces For Translational Neurological Care and Drug Development

Prof. YANG, Yiyuan

Department of Biomedical Engineering & N.1 Institute for Health
National University of Singapore

Date: November 9
Time: 16:00–17:00
Location: Rm 2405

Speaker Bio

Dr. Yang joined the Department of Biomedical Engineering and N.1 Institute for Health at NUS in August 2024 as an Assistant Professor. He was awarded for the Presidential Young Professorship. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University in 2021 and completed his postdoctoral research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2024. His research focuses on developing wireless optogenetic devices for exploring neural dynamics and biorobotics. Additionally, he is working on ingestible devices designed for long-term continuous monitoring of activity and pathology in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as closed-loop medication delivery. His contributions have resulted in world-class publications, garnering international recognition; his work was ranked #1 among similarly aged articles in Nature Neuroscience according to Altmetric and featured in over 50 news outlets, including "The Times," "New York Times," and "Science News." In 2024, he received the “Outstanding Young Scientist” award from Microsystems & Nanoengineering. In 2026, he was awarded for “Outstanding Junior Editorial Board Member Award” from Soft Science and “Special Contributions for Academic Initiatives” from Microsystems & Nanoengineering.

Abstract

Connecting biological measurements with timely intervention remains a central challenge in neurological care and drug development. Addressing this challenge requires biointerfaces that can accommodate soft tissues, capture complementary biological signals, and translate complex measurements into actionable information. This seminar will present our efforts to integrate flexible bioelectronics, multimodal sensing, and intelligent analysis across therapeutic devices and engineered tissue models. For neurological applications, I will introduce our work on intelligent, closed-loop neuromodulation, highlighting how identifying disease-related states and delivering timely intervention can support more responsive therapeutic strategies. These studies also motivate a broader exploration of multimodal biointerfaces for understanding brain activity and evaluating treatment responses. For drug development, I will discuss our efforts to establish engineered tissue models that capture key features of human tissue microenvironments and allow biological responses to be followed over time. With a focus on hepatic injury and fibrotic remodeling, these platforms aim to support mechanistic studies and more informative evaluation of therapeutic candidates. Beyond direct intervention, neurological care also encompasses how patients interact with their surroundings, creating opportunities for intelligent robots to assist with everyday activities and therapeutic support. Enabling these systems to perceive and respond effectively is an important step toward future care. In this context, I will introduce our flexible optoelectronic computing interface (FOCI) as an intelligent visual system that supports rapid perception and response, alongside an ultrasound-assisted platform that offers therapeutic capabilities for wound care and drug delivery. These complementary directions point toward intelligent care systems that combine responsive interaction with practical therapeutic functions.

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