UM's First PhD Graduate in Robotics

 

Liu Yugang, a student in the Department of Electromechanical Engineering of the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) of the University of Macau (UM), passed his oral defense, successfully, with his PhD thesis entitled “Kinematics, Dynamics and Intelligent Control for Nonholonomic Mobile Modular Manipulators”. He is the first PhD graduate in Robotics at UM, as well as the 1st PhD student from the Mainland of China to obtain a PhD degree.

Liu Yugang was born in Botou city, Hebei Province, P.R. China. He achieved the bachelor degree in engineering, in July 1999, at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of University of Science and Technology, Beijing. In April 2002, he got his master degree at Automation School of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. From April to October 2002, Liu Yugang acted as a software engineer in Hua Wei Communication Corporation, Shenzhen city, Guangdong Province, P. R. China. In October 2002, he became a PhD candidate of the Department of Electromechanical Engineering of FST of UM, in the charge of Professor Li Yangmin. His research interest included modeling and intelligent control of mobile modular manipulators. Till now, Liu Yugang has published 12 international journal papers (8 indexed by SCI/SCIE, 10 indexed by EI), 12 refereed international conference papers (10 incorporated by IEEE Xplore, 12 indexed by EI) and 3 book chapters (2 indexed by SCIE/EI/DBLP).

In June 30 2006, Liu Yugang passed his oral defense examination and was awarded the top mark “very good with honor and distinction”, unanimously, by all 7 members of the examination committee. Professor Anthony A Maciejewski, one of the external members of the panel, even said that he had been impressed with the high standards set up by the University of Macau for a PhD oral defense and in particular with the result of Liu Yugang.

The chairman of the examination committee is Professor Rui Martins, Vice Rector of UM. Other members include Dr. Liu’s supervisor Professor Li Yangmin, FST of UM, Professor Anthony A Maciejewski, IEEE Fellow and Head of Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of Colorado State University of USA, Professor Jun Wang, Senior Member of IEEE from Department of Automation and Computer-Aided Engineering of Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor João Sequeira from Technical University of Lisbon in Portugal, Professor I-Ming Chen from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and Professor Wong Pak Kin from FST of UM.


13/07/2006