Primary Investigator
Robert X. Gao
Cady Staley Professor of Engineering
Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (EMAE)
Department Chair
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (EMAE)
Department Chair
Develops multi-physics sensing and stochastic modeling methods for improving observability in dynamical systems
Office
Glennan 479C
Email
Preferred Email
Ph.D.,
Mechanical Engineering,
Technical University of Berlin, Germany,
1991
M.S.,
Mechanical Engineering,
Technical University of Berlin, Germany,
1985
B.S.,
Mechanical Engineering,
Central Academy of Arts and Design, Beijing, China,
1982
Awards and Recognition
2023, Milton C. Shaw Manufacturing Medal, ASME
2019, Eli Whitney Productivity Award, SME
2018, Blackall Machine Tool and Gage Award, ASME
2019, Best Application in Instrumentation and Measurement Award, IEEE
2013, Instrumentation and Measurement Society Technical Award, IEEE
2018, Hideo Hanafusa Outstanding Investigator Award, ISFA
2022, International Leader Award, Center for International Affairs, Case Western Reserve University
2020, Named one of The 20 Most Influential Professors in Smart Manufacturing, SME
2012, Outstanding Associate Editor Award, IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement
2008, Pratt & Whitney Chair Professorship, University of Connecticut
2011, Research Excellence Award, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut
2007, Outstanding Senior Engineering Faculty Award, University of Massachusetts Amherst
1999, Barbara H. and Joseph I. Goldstein Outstanding Junior Engineering Faculty Award, University of Massachusetts Amherst
1996, Early CAREER Award, NSF
2022, Distinguished Fellow, International Institute of Acoustics and Vibration (IIAV)
2016, Fellow, International Academy for Production Engineering (CIRP)
2014, Fellow, Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)
2008, Fellow, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
2006, Fellow, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
2010, Member, Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering
2014, Distinguished Lecturer, IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society
2008, Distinguished Lecturer, IEEE Electron Devices Society
Professor Gao's research interests are in the areas of signal transduction mechanisms for multi-physics sensing, mechatronic systems design, stochastic modeling, multi-resolution data analysis, and artificial intelligence/machine learning for improving the observability and control of manufacturing processes and product quality. His research integrates analytical, numerical, and experimental methods, and has led to the inventions of miniaturized sensors, high-speed measurement instruments, and AI-based data analytic methods to enhance in-situ monitoring and control of manufacturing processes (e.g., plastic injection molding, sheet metal stamping, microrolling, etc.) and prognosis of product quality and system performance (e.g., aircraft engines, building HVAC, batteries, etc.). His current research addresses AI-enhanced control, intelligence, and autonomy of hybrid autonomous manufacturing processes (e.g., incremental forming and additive manufacturing), which is part of the recently established NSF Engineering Research Center on Hybrid Autonomous Manufacturing: Moving from Evolution to Revolution (NSF ERC HAMMER). He has published three books, over 400 technical papers (including 200 journal articles), 13 awarded patents, and given more than 120 invited talks.
CV
CV_RGao_Updated_2024.pdf561.76 KB
Non-CWRU Academic, Government, Military and Professional Positions
2020 -
PRESENT, Senior Editor IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics
2022 -
2023
, Guest Editor Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing
2021 -
2022
, Guest Editor Journal of Materials Processing Technology
2019 -
2020
, Guest Editor IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics
2016 -
2017
, Guest Editor ASME Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering
2009 -
2015
, Associate Editor ASME Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering
2008 -
2015
, Associate Editor IFAC Mechatronics, International Federation of Automatic Control
2000 -
2008
, Associate Editor IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement,
2005 -
2008
, Associate Editor ASME Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement, and Controls
2018 -
PRESENT, Editorial Board Member Robotics and Computer Integrated Manufacturing
2018 -
PRESENT, Editorial Board Member International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing
2017 -
PRESENT, Editorial Board Member Nanomanufacturing and Nanometrology
Areas of Research
Signal Transduction Mechanisms for Smart Manufacturing
- Capacitance-based pressure sensing for microrolling of sheet metals
- Multi-physics sensing for injection molding process monitoring and quality prediction
- Electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) for dynamic process imaging
Physics-Informed AI/Machine Learning for Manufacturing Process Monitoring and Quality Control
- Physics-guided Gaussian process for system performance prognosis
- Texture-aware ridgelet transform for machined surface roughness characterization
- Shapley additive explanations for feature ranking in additive manufacturing
Human Robot Collaboration in Manufacturing
- Temporal and spatial information fusion for human action recognition
- Causal dependency analysis for human action prediction
- Probabilistic recurrent neural network for human trajectory prediction
Stochastic Modeling and Uncertainty Quantification
- Local search particle filter for tool wear degradation prediction
- Markov nonlinear system estimation for engine performance tracking
- Multimodal particle filter for remaining useful life (RUL) prediction
Signal Processing and Multi-Resolution Analysis
- Base wavelet selection for vibration signal analysis
- Harmonic wavelet-based data filter for machine defect identification
- Approximate entropy and complexity measures for machine health evaluation
Mechatronic Systems Design
- Sensor-embedded smart bearing with self-diagnostic capabilities
- Ultrasound sensor integrated long cane for the visually impaired
- Energy efficient wearable electronics for human health management
Publications
Google Scholar
453000
sponorg
NSF
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Research Thrust(s)
High-Performance Manufacturing
Robotics and Mechatronics
Robotics and Motion Control
Smart and Sustainable Manufacturing
Design, develop and systematically evaluate in a realistic manufacturing setting an intelligent human-robot collaboration system enabled by ubiquitous sensing, customized cognition, realtime prediction, and intelligent control methods, which ensure operation safety and production efficiency, for deployment on the factory floor.