Seminar: Deformable Object Manipulation: Challenges and Opportunities, Dr Jihong Zhu, University of York

Abstract:

Why is deformable object manipulation (DOM) challenging? In this talk, I will discuss key challenges in DOM and present the approaches I have developed to address them. I will also highlight promising applications of DOM, ranging from managing cable harnesses in industrial settings to assistive dressing for domestic robots.

Bio:

Jihong Zhu is a lecturer in robotics at the School of Physics, Engineering, and Technology, and an affiliated researcher at the Institute for Safe Autonomy, University of York. He leads the Robot-Assisted Living Laboratory (RALLA) at York, where his research primarily focuses on deformable objects and assistive manipulation. Before joining York, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Cognitive Robotics, TU Delft, and Honda Research Institute, Europe. Jihong obtained his PhD at the University of Montpellier, where he conducted his research at LIRMM, supported by the H2020 VERSATILE project. He is presently an Associate Editor for IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (RA-L), ICRA, and IROS.