Active Research Topics

Topic 1

Aerial Manipulation

Exploring advanced drones with robot arms or tools, enabling them to perform complex tasks in challenging or hazardous environments.

Topic 2

Robot Swarm

Developing collaborative multi-robot systems to tackle large-scale missions from search-and-rescue operations to distributed data gathering and exploration.

Topic 3

Human-Embodied Robots Through Mixed Reality

Bridging the gap between humans and robots via immersive AR/VR, empowering intuitive remote teleoperation and real-time human-in-the-loop control.

Topic 4

Robot Learning by Demonstration using AI

Combining AI with demonstration-based teaching to help robots rapidly acquire new tasks and adapt to dynamic environments.

Current Projects

Project 1

Warehouse Monitoring UAS

Development of Uncrewed Aerial Systems for warehouse monitoring

Funding Source: Industry

Topics: UAS, Computer Vision, Object Tracking

Project 2

UAS-assisted Landmine Mapping and Circumvention

Development of a robust probabilistic framework for minefield localization, mapping and avoidance, addressing technological gap in the field of aerial countermine intelligence.

Funding Source: U. S. Department of Defense (US-DoD)

Topics: UAS, Landmine Detection, Probabilistic Logic, Flight Control, Potential Field

Publications : IEEE International Conference on Unmanned Aerial Systems (ICUAS), 2025 [DOI]

Past Projects

Project 11

VR-based Mobile Tele Manipulation

Development of Telemanipulation system using VR/AR control interface, enabling a human-in-the-loop to remotely execute a specialized task in military missions

Funding Source: U. S. Department of Defense (US-DoD)

Topics: VR/AR, Teleoperation, Manipulation

Publications : IEEE International Conference on Ubiquitous Robots (UR), 2024 [DOI]

Project 10

Collaborative Aerial Swarming Architecture (CASA)

Development of a dynamic task allocation algorithm for a swarm of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). CASA is capable of dynamic task allocation and decentralized control

Funding Source: U. S. Department of Defense (US-DoD)

Topics: Drones, Swarm, Decentralized Control, Task Allocation

Publications : IEEE International Conference on Control, Automation, and Systems (ICCAS), 2023 [DOI]

Project 9

UAS Heavy Payload control and mission executions

Employ various types of heavy payload on UAS for military missions

Funding Source: U. S. Department of Defense (US-DoD)

Topics: Drones, Heavy Payload, Control

Project 8

Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) Swarm for Source Search and Mapping

Deploy a group of UAS to sense radiation (or others) sources in restricted area. Create a 3D map of these sources for Space Mission

Funding Source: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Topics: Drones, Swarm Robotics, Sensing, Mapping

Project 7

Cable-Driven Parallel Robot (CDPR) for Warehouse Monitoring

CDPR with camera to provide warehouse monitoring for 24 hours, 365 days

Funding Source: Tesla

Topics: CDPR, Computer Vision, Warehouse Monitoring

Publications : IEEE Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference (CCWC), 2023 [DOI]

Project 6

Human-embodied Drones for Horizontal Manipulation

Use a single UAV to generate (print) images in the sky during the day time. The message could be used in situations like search and rescue, disaster response

Funding Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (USDOT/OST-R) under Grant No. 69A3551747126

Topics: Drones, Mobile Manipulation, Human Embodiment, Mixed Reality (MR), Control

Publications : IEEE International Conference on Advanced Robotics and its Social Impacts (ARSO), 2022. [DOI]
Journal of Intelligent Service Robots (JIST), 2024 [DOI]

Project 5

Human-embodied Drones for Vertical Manipulation

Use a single UAV to generate (print) images in the sky during the day time. The message could be used in situations like search and rescue, disaster response

Funding Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (USDOT/OST-R) under Grant No. 69A3551747126

Topics: Drones, Mobile Manipulation, Human Embodiment, Mixed Reality (MR), Control

Publications : IEEE International Conference on Unmanned Aerial Systems (ICUAS), 2021 [DOI]

Project 4

Haptic-based Aerial Drill Press

Development of customized haptic drill press to control mobile manipulating drones to drill through material surfaces. The operator can evaluate level of task completions using haptic feedback

Funding Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (USDOT/OST-R) under Grant No. 69A3551747126

Topics: Drones, Mobile Manipulation, Teleoperation, Haptics

Publications : IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), 2020 [DOI]

Project 3

Haptic-based Mobile Manipulating UAV

Integrate haptic feedback system to mobile manipulating drones. The operator can leverage their experience to perform mobile manipulation tasks for bridge inspection and maintenance

Funding Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (USDOT/OST-R) under Grant No. 69A3551747126

Topics: Drones, Mobile Manipulation, Teleoperation, Haptics

Publications : IEEE American Control Conference (ACC), 2020 [DOI]

Project 2

Lab Automation Drones for Mobile Manipulation in High Throughput Systems

Development of mobile manipulating drones to deliver testing samples in high throughput systems for pharmaceutical laboratories

Funding Source: University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)

Topics: Mobile Manipulation, Drones, Control, Lab Automation

Publications : IEEE International Conference on Consumer Electronics (ICCE), 2018 [DOI]
IEEE International Conference on Ubiquitous Robots (UR), 2018 [DOI]
IEEE International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (ICUAS), 2018 [DOI]

Project 1

Skywriting Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

Use a single UAV to generate (print) images in the sky during the day time. The message could be used in situations like search and rescue, disaster response

Funding Source: University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)

Topics: Drones, Skywriting, Control, Autonomous Flight

Publications : IEEE International Conference on Unmanned Aerial Systems (ICUAS), 2017 [DOI]