Dr Ze Ji

Lecturer

: jiz1@cardiff.ac.uk
: +44 (0)29 2087 0017
: Room C/1.07, Queen's Buildings - South Building, 5 The Parade, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA

: Available for postgraduate supervision

I have held multiple positions as a robotics and autonomous systems researcher and engineer in both academia and industry (Dyson, Lenovo, and Autonomous Surface Vehicles). My PhD was sponsored as part of the EU FP6 project, TAI- CHI (Tangible Acoustic Interfaces for Computer Human Interaction), which won the best exhibit prize of EU FP6 exhibition in Helsinki, Finland, in 2006.

I have very broad experience in robotics, including indoor mobile robots, humanoid robots, and outdoor unmanned autonomous surface vehicles. In particular, he has been focusing on research areas of simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM), computer vision, situational awareness, acoustic and tactile sensing, machine learning, swarm intelligence, robot task planning and knowledge representation.

At Dyson, as a robotics systems engineer, I have filed and published patents in the area of mobile robotics. The main project there was the Dyson 360 robot, which utilises a 360 camera for indoor localisation and mapping (Visual SLAM). I worked at Lenovo on service robotics, as a Robotic Systems Architect and Technical Leader of a team of 10 researchers and engineers with background of machine learning, computer vision, slam, cloud, and IoT. At ASV (Autonomous Surface Vehicles), I have successfully, as a core research member, delivered several projects funded by innovate UK, DSTL, and NOC/SBRI.

Before these, I had been working as a research fellow in academia for a number of EU FP6 & FP7 projects, such as TAI-CHI, IWARD (Intelligent Robot Swarm for Attendance, Recognition, Cleaning, and Delivery), ROBOSKIN (Skin-based technologies and capabilities for safe, autonomous and interactive robots), and SRS (Multi-Role Shadow Robotic System for Independent Living).

Robotics and Autonomous Systems Laboratory

I am also the operational manager of the Robotics and Autonomous Systems Laboratory. The laboratory has cutting-edge equipments for teaching and research.

One Care-o-bot 4 (advanced service robot)
Two Kuka lbr iiwa collaborative robots
Three Kuka youbot (mobile robots)
Several small turtlebots
And various advanced sensors used for robot navigation and multi-modal human robot interaction

Here is the group Github account for projects (quite empty so far) carried out in the lab.

Others

For information about software tools I use, here is my personal blog with posts related to software tools, such as Emacs, Linux, and some programming related notes.

Education

2007: PhD (Systems Engineering) Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
2003: MSc (Computer Science) University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
2001: BEng (Electronic Engineering), Jilin University, China

Honours and awards

Won the best Exhibit by the EU FP6 project TAI-CHI "Tangible Acoustic Interface for Human Computer Interaction" in EC IST Exhibition, Helsinki, Finland, 2006
Best paper award, TAROS, Bristol, 2018

Academic positions

2016 - present: Lecturer in robotics and autonomous systems, Cardiff University
2014 - 2016: Unmanned Systems Engineer (R&D), ASV ltd
2013 - 2014: Robotics Systems Engineer (R&D), Dyson Ltd
2009 - 2011: Research Fellow, Adaptive System Research Group, University of Hertfordshire
2007 - 2013: Research Fellow, Cardiff University

Speaking engagements

Invited Speaker at CoInnovate, Cardiff (http://coinnovate.co.uk/speakers/), 24 Jan 2018
Invited talk at Jilin Univeristy, ChangChun, China, May 2017
Research Colloquium, University of Hertfordshire, Giving Objects the Sense of Touch: A novel tangible interface based on acoustic localization techniques, 28 Oct 2009

2018

Wu, J. and Ji, Z. 2018. Seeing the unseen: Locating objects from reflections. Presented at: 19th Towards Autonomous Robotic Systems (TAROS) Conference, Bristol, UK, 25- 27 July 2018.
Ji, Z., Schruoffeneger, R. and Setchi, R. 2018. Autonomous 3D scene understanding and exploration in cluttered workspaces using point cloud data. Presented at: 2018 IEEE 15th International Conference on Networking, Sensing and Control (ICNSC), Zhuhai, China, 27-29 March 20182018 IEEE 15th International Conference on Networking, Sensing and Control (ICNSC). IEEE, (10.1109/ICNSC.2018.8361275)

2017

Ji, Z. and Huang, Y. 2017. Autonomous boat dynamics: How far away is simulation from the high sea?. Presented at: OCEANS 2017, Aberdeen, 19 - 22 June 2017OCEANS 2017 - Aberdeen. IEEE, (10.1109/OCEANSE.2017.8084927)

2016

Haworth, C.et al. 2016. An open software framework for adaptive, autonomous operation of maritime autonomous systems. Presented at: OCEANS 2016 MTS/IEEE Monterey, Monterey, CA, 19-23 September 2016. , (10.1109/OCEANS.2016.7761329)
Haworth, C.et al. 2016. UMS mission management for mixed fleets. Presented at: OCEANS'15 MTS/IEEE, Washington DC, 19-22 Oct 2015OCEANS'15 MTS/IEEE Washington. , (10.23919/OCEANS.2015.7404638)

2015

Al-Moadhen, A.et al. 2015. Improving the efficiency of robot task planning by automatically integrating its planner and common-sense knowledge base. In: Tweedale, J. W., Jain, L. C. and Watada, J. eds. Knowledge-Based Information Systems in Practice., Vol. 30. Springer, pp. 185-198., (10.1007/978-3-319-13545-8_11)

2013

Wang, Z.et al. 2013. Nanoscale structures for implementation of anti-reflection and self-cleaning functions. International Journal of Nanomanufacturing 9(5/6), pp. 520-531. (10.1504/IJNM.2013.057596)
Al-Moadhen, A.et al. 2013. Integrating robot task planner with common-sense knowledge base to improve the efficiency of planning. Procedia Computer Science 22, pp. 211-220. (10.1016/j.procs.2013.09.097)
Sato, Y., Ji, Z. and van Dijk, S. 2013. I think I have heard that one before : recurrence-based word learning with a robot. In: Gogate, L. and Hollich, G. eds. Theoretical and Computational Models of Word Learning: Trends in Psychology and Artificial Intelligence.. IGI Global, pp. 327-349., (10.4018/978-1-4666-2973-8.ch014)
Qiu, R.et al. 2013. The development of a semi-autonomous framework for personal assistant robots - SRS project. International Journal of Intelligent Mechatronics and Robotics 3(4), pp. 30-47. (10.4018/ijimr.2013100102)

2012

Ji, Z.et al. 2012. Towards automated task planning for service robots using semantic knowledge representation. Presented at: 2012 10th IEEE International Conference on Industrial Informatics (INDIN), Beijing, China, 25-27 July 2012INDIN2012: IEEE 10th International Conference on Industrial Informatics. Los Alamitos, CA: IEEE pp. 1194-1201., (10.1109/INDIN.2012.6301131)
Qiu, R.et al. 2012. Integration of symbolic task planning into operations within an unstructured environment. International Journal of Intelligent Mechatronics and Robotics 2(3), pp. 38-57. (10.4018/ijimr.2012070104)
Soroka, A. J.et al. 2012. Challenges for service robots operating in non-industrial environments. Presented at: 2012 10th IEEE International Conference on Industrial Informatics (INDIN, Beijing, China, 25-27 July 2012Industrial Informatics (INDIN), 2012 10th IEEE International Conference on. IEEE pp. 1152-1157., (10.1109/INDIN.2012.6301139)
Qiu, R.et al. 2012. Towards robust personal assistant robots: Experience gained in the SRS project. Presented at: 2012 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), Vilamoura, Portugal, 7-12 October 2012Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), 2012 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on. IEEE pp. 1651-1657., (10.1109/IROS.2012.6385727)
Zhang, J.et al. 2012. Configurations of laser interference lithography for 2D/3D nanostructures of optical functional materials. Presented at: 2012 International Conference on Manipulation, Manufacturing and Measurement on the Nanoscale (3M-NANO), Shaanxi, China, 29 August - 1st September 20122012 International Conference on Manipulation, Manufacturing and Measurement on the Nanoscale (3M-NANO). pp. 169., (10.1109/3M-NANO.2012.6472999)

2011

Amirabdollahian, F.et al. 2011. Investigating tactile event recognition in child-robot interaction for use in autism therapy. Presented at: 33rd Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Boston, MA, USA, 30 August - 3 September 20112011 Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE pp. 5347-5351., (10.1109/IEMBS.2011.6091323)
Qiu, R.et al. 2011. Symbolic task planning for robot operations under unstructured environment. Presented at: 1st International Conference on Manipulation, Manufacturing and Measurement on the Nanoscale (3M-NANO), Changechun, China, 29th - 31st August 2011.
Xu, S.et al. 2011. Binary Bees Algorithm - bioinspiration from the foraging mechanism of honeybees to optimize a multiobjective multidimensional assignment problem. Engineering Optimization 43(11), pp. 1141-1159. (10.1080/0305215X.2010.542812)
Xu, S.et al. 2011. Adaptive Bees Algorithm - Bioinspiration from Honeybee Foraging to Optimize Fuel Economy of a Semi-Track Air-Cushion Vehicle. The Computer Journal 54(9), pp. 1416-1426. (10.1093/comjnl/bxq097)
Ji, Z.et al. 2011. Histogram based classification of tactile patterns on periodically distributed skin sensors for a humanoid robot. Presented at: RO-MAN, Atlanta GA, USA, 31 Jul -3 Aug 2011. pp. 433., (10.1109/ROMAN.2011.6005261)
Wang, Z.et al. 2011. Robotic nanoassembly: current developments and challenges. International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology 41(3/4), pp. 185-194. (10.1504/IJCAT.2011.042694)
Amirabdollahian, F.et al. 2011. Investigating tactile event recognition in child-robot interaction for use in autism therapy. Presented at: 2011 Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Boston, MA, USA, 30 August - 3 September 2011. pp. 5347., (10.1109/IEMBS.2011.6091323)

2010

Xu, S.et al. 2010. Simultaneous localization and mapping: swarm robot mutual localization and sonar arc bidirectional carving mapping. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science 225(3), pp. 733-744. (10.1243/09544062JMES2239)
Xu, S.et al. 2010. Bio-inspired binary bees algorithm for a two-level distribution optimisation problem. Journal of Bionic Engineering 7(2), pp. 161-167. (10.1016/S1672-6529(09)60205-5)
Robinson, B.et al. 2010. Tactile interaction with a humanoid robot for children with autism: A case study analysis involving user requirements and results of an initial implementation. Presented at: 19th International Symposium in Robot and Human Interactive Communication, Viareggio, 13-15 September 201019th International Symposium in Robot and Human Interactive Communication. pp. 704., (10.1109/ROMAN.2010.5598641)

2009

Yang, M.et al. 2009. A new computer interface based on in-solid acoustic source localization. Presented at: 7th IEEE International Conference on Industrial Informatics, Cardiff, UK, 23-26 Jun 2009. , (10.1109/INDIN.2009.5195791)
Meunier, M.et al. 2009. Interference lithography processes with high-power laser pulses. Presented at: SPIE LASE: Lasers and Applications in Science and Engineering, San Jose, California, 2009 Presented at Meunier, M. et al. eds.Laser Applications in Microelectronic and Optoelectronic Manufacturing VII, Vol. 7201. International Society for Optical Engineering; 1999 pp. 72010R., (10.1117/12.808834)
Pham, D. T., Ji, Z. and Soroka, A. J. 2009. Ultrasonic distance scanning techniques for mobile robots. International Journal of Computer Aided Engineering and Technology 1(2), pp. 209-224. (10.1504/IJCAET.2009.022787)
Ji, Z.et al. 2009. Quality inspection of nanoscale patterns produced by Laser Interference Lithography using image analysis techniques. Presented at: 2009 International Conference on Mechatronics and Automation, Changchun, China, 9-12 August 20092009 International Conference on Mechatronics and Automation. IEEE pp. 1835-1840., (10.1109/ICMA.2009.5246458)

2007

Pham, D.et al. 2007. Localisation of impacts on solid objects using the wavelet transform and maximum likelihood estimation. Presented at: 2nd I*PROMS Virtual International Conference, Internet, 3-14 July 2006 Presented at Pham, D. ed.Intelligent Production Machines and Systems - 2nd I*PROMS Virtual International Conference. Elsevier pp. 541-547., (10.1016/B978-008045157-2/50095-X)
Ji, Z. 2007. Development of tangible acoustic interfaces for human computer interaction. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
Pham, D.et al. 2007. Pattern matching for tangible acoustic interfaces. In: Intelligent Production Machines and Systems.. , pp. 556., (10.1016/B978-008045157-2/50097-3)

2018-2019

EN4100 Mechatronics Design
EN3062 Robotics and Image Processing
EN4062 Advanced Robotics
ENT604 Measurement Systems (Module Leader)

2017-2018

EN4100 Mechatronics Design
EN4062 Advanced Robotics
ENT604 Measurement Systems (Module Leader)

2016-2017

EN4100 Mechatronics Design
ENT604 Measurement Systems
Others, including Design and Lab

Contracts

Investigators	Sponsor	Value	Title	Duration
Ji Z, Wu J, Setchi R.	Renishaw and Cardiff University Strategic Fund	£40,000 cash funding from the strategic partnership fund (total project value: £101,332)	Pushing the boundary of vision-based 3D surface imaging	01 Apr 2018 - 31 Mar 2019
Setchi R., Ji Z.	WEFO through ASTUTE and Industry	£884,673 including £652,661 from Continental and £232,012 from WEFO	Additive Manufacturing and Robotics to Support Improved Response to Increased Flexibility	02 Feb 2018 – 01 Feb 19

Research Areas

Mobile Robots:

To update. Computer Vision related: Visual SLAM, Visual Servoing, Vision Odometry

One of my most valuable experience in this area is the work on the Dyson 360 Robot project:

Watch a video of the research in YouTube

Another project is the EU FP7 project, SRS, which focused on the development and prototyping of remotely-controlled, semi-autonomous robotic solutions in domestic environments to support elderly people.

SRS project (Service Robot)

Autonomous Vehicles:

As part my teaching activities (Mechatronics module), I led a team of 7 students to build a USV (Unmanned Surface Vehicle). The video below is the first trial at Cardiff Bay. We will keep developing the project in future.

Watch a video of the research in YouTube

Related research includes robot behaviours, such as computer vision and other sensors for collision avoidance and situation awareness, probablistic action planning, and intelligent motion control.

Sensing (Acoustic Localisation for Human Computer Interaction):

To update

Tactile Sensing and Human Robot Interaction: