Dr Mingfeng Wang
Senior Lecturer in Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Summary

Academic Career

• Senior Lectuer (Associate Professor), Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Brunel University London, 2024 - present.
• Lecturer (Assistant Professor), Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Brunel University London, 2021 - 2024.
• Research Fellow, Rolls-Royce UTC in Manufacturing and On-Wing Technology, Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Nottingham, 2017-2021.
• Senior Research Associate, National Centre for Precision Farming, Harper Adams University, 2016-2017.

Academic and Professional Qualifications

• FHEA, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK, 2023.
• CEng, Chartered Engineer, Engineering Council UK, 2022.
• P.hD., University of Cassino and South Lazio, Italy, 2016. 
• M.Sc. (Distinction), Central South University, China, 2012.
• B.Eng. (Hons), Central South University, China, 2008.

Research Expertise and Interests

• Continuum robotic systems for in-situ maintenance (inspection and repair) in confined environments(e.g. aeroengine and nuclear).
• Legged robotic systems with parallel mechanisms (e.g. humanoid and hexapod robots).
• Soft robotic systems with embedded sensing (e.g. soft fruit havesting robot).
• Precision farming robotic systems (e.g. laser weeding robot).
• Miniaturised robotic systems (e.g. capsule robot)

Research Grants

• Co-I, “Integration and testing of a cochlear implant insertion robot", RNID-PhD studentships, £85,89, 04/2024-03/2027.
• PI: "Field-trial of novel compliant end-effectors for train fluid servicing", Impact Acceleration Account- Brunel University (EP/X525510/1), £25,427.9, 06/2022-06/2024.
• PI: “Machine learning based overall performance optimisation for railway fluids service robots", Brunel Research Initiative & Enterprise Fund (BRIEF), £14,835, 06/2022-12/2023.
• PI, "Optimal design of a walking machine for in-situ maintenance and repair in hazardous environments",  Impact Acceleration Account - Brunel University (EPSRC EP/R511493/1), £25,000, 03/2022-03/2023.
• PI: "Self-coordinated Locomotion and Manipulation of the RAIN-Hex", Robotics and Artificial Intelligence in Nuclear (EPSRC EP/R026084/1), £36,834.11, 11/2021-03/2022.
• Co-I, "Coordinated whole-body control and overall performance optimisation for a mobile snake-like robotic arm", International Exchanges 2020 Cost Share (NSFC) (IEC/NSFC/201279), £12,000, 03/2021-03/2022.
• Co-I, "In-situ sampling for inspection of pressurised water reactor using RAIN-Hex robot", Robotics and Artificial Intelligence in Nuclear (EPSRC EP/R026084/1), £25,000, 06/2020-12/2020.
• Co-I, "Self-calibration system to enhance machining capability of the RAIN-Hex", Robotics and Artificial Intelligence in Nuclear (EPSRC EP/R026084/1), £25,000, 06/2019-02/2020.
• PI, "Comprehensive modelling of slender continuum robots using twin-pivot compliant joints", Through-life performance: From science to instrumentation (EPSRC EP/P027121/1), £83,000, 06/2019-05/2019.

 Award

• BRIEF award, Brunel Research Initiative and Enterprise Fund, 2022
• Best paper post nomination, Towards Autonomous Robotic Systems Conference (TAROS), 2022
• Best paper of Year 2021,  Surface Topography: Metrology and Properties, 2022
• Best paper award, IFToMM Asian Mechanisms and Machine Science Conference (Asian-MMS), 2014.
• IFToMM Young Delegates Programm, 2014, 2015.
• Excellent Student Scholarship in Lazio, Italy, 2013/14, 2014/15.

Responsibility

Membership of professional institutions

• Member since 2016, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE);
• Member since 2017, IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (IEEE-RAS);
• Member since 2021, the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
• Member since 2021, the International Federation for the Promotion of Mechanism and Machine Science (IFToMM) 

Professional Services

• Associate Editor of International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems (JCR-Q3), Sage Journals;
• Associate Editor of Frontiers in Robotics and AI (JCR-Q2), Frontiers;
• Editor of Information Processing in Agriculture (JCR-Q1), Elsevier;
• Editor of Biomimetic Intelligence and Robotics, Elsevier;
• Editor of STEM Education (eISSN: 2767-1925), American Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS);
• Steering committee member of Towards Autonomous Robotic Systems Conf. (TAROS), since 2023;
• Programme Chair of 25th Towards Autonomous Robotic Systems Conf. (TAROS 2024), London, UK, Aug. 2024
• Organising committee member of 24th Towards Autonomous Robotic Systems Conf. (TAROS 2023), Cambridge, UK, Sept 2023;
• TPC member of Towards Autonomous Robotic Systems Conf. (TAROS), Lincoln, UK, Sept 2021; 
• TPC member of Towards Autonomous Robotic Systems Conf. (TAROS), Nottingham, UK, July 2020;
• TPC member of Int. Conf. on Autonomic and Autonomous Systems (ICAS), Venice, Italy, May 2020;