Xiao Liang | Multi-Agent Control | Outstanding Scientist Award

Prof. Xiao Liang | Multi-Agent Control | Outstanding Scientist Award

Associate Dean | Shenyang Aerospace University | China

Xiao Liang is a Professor at Shenyang Aerospace University and Associate Director of the Key Laboratory of Liaoning Province. He earned his B.S. in Automation from Northeastern University, followed by an M.S. in Control Theory and Control Engineering. He received his Ph.D. in Navigation, Guidance, and Control from Beihang University. With over 30 academic papers published in leading journals and five authorized patents, Liang has significantly advanced unmanned aerial and ground vehicle (UAV/UGV) research. His international engagement includes academic exchanges at Swansea University, UK. He has led numerous prestigious projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Aeronautical Science Foundation, and provincial foundations. His research integrates intelligent decision-making, mission planning, and heterogeneous multi-agent collaboration. Liang’s work bridges theory and practice, addressing challenges in robotics, aerospace, and autonomous systems.

Professional Profiles

ORCID | Scopus

Education 

Xiao Liang’s academic journey demonstrates consistent excellence and commitment to automation and control engineering. He completed his undergraduate studies in Automation at Northeastern University, where he distinguished himself by being recommended for postgraduate study without entrance examinations. He pursued a Master’s degree in Control Theory and Control Engineering, which he earned. His doctoral studies at Beihang University culminated in a Ph.D. in Navigation, Guidance, and Control, specializing in autonomous systems and flight control technologies. This educational trajectory provided Liang with a robust foundation in aircraft design, control theory, and computational modeling. His exposure to both theoretical and applied dimensions of control engineering has enabled him to integrate multidisciplinary perspectives into his research. An academic exchange visit to Swansea University further enriched his international outlook. His education laid the groundwork for his leadership in UAV/UGV cooperative systems and intelligent autonomous decision-making.

Experience 

Xiao Liang is a Professor at Shenyang Aerospace University’s School of Automation, where he supervises master’s students and directs cutting-edge research. He also serves as Associate Director of the Key Laboratory of Liaoning Province. His research leadership includes hosting major projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Aeronautical Science Foundation of China, and multiple provincial agencies. Liang’s projects span UAV/UGV path planning, dynamic tracking, collaborative sensing, and obstacle avoidance, with applications in rescue missions and aerospace systems. He has published widely in journals such as Intelligent Service Robotics, Robotics and Autonomous Systems, and Aerospace Science and Technology. Beyond academia, his work includes five authorized patents on UAV control systems and path planning methods, underscoring his role in translating research into technological innovations. Liang’s international experience, including research exchange at Swansea University, has further shaped his multidisciplinary approach to intelligent decision-making and multi-agent collaboration.

Research Focus 

Xiao Liang’s research lies at the intersection of control theory, artificial intelligence, and aerospace systems. His primary focus is the design and optimization of heterogeneous multi-agent systems, particularly UAV/UGV collaboration in dynamic and complex environments. His contributions span navigation, guidance, and control (GNC), pursuit-evasion strategies, multi-agent decision-making, and robust target-tracking algorithms. Liang has introduced innovative approaches such as visual SLAM in dynamic environments, semantic octree mapping, and adaptive path planning methods under uncertain conditions. His work also explores mission planning under adversarial and rescue scenarios, emphasizing robustness and fault tolerance. Liang integrates hardware-software design into UAV/UGV systems, ensuring practical applicability. His pioneering contributions extend beyond aerospace into areas such as smart shopping systems for unmanned supermarkets, reflecting the adaptability of his methods. With a balance of theoretical advancement and applied innovation, his research continues to push the boundaries of intelligent multi-agent control and autonomous robotics.

Awards and Honors 

Xiao Liang has been recognized with multiple prestigious awards for his scientific and technological contributions. He received the Science and Technology Award from the Chinese Society of Astronautics, highlighting his impact in aerospace innovation. His mentorship and leadership have also led student teams to achieve top recognition: Second Prize in the 16th “Challenge Cup” National Undergraduate Academic Science and Technology Works, and First Prize in both the 13th and 14th China Graduate Electronic Design Competitions. He was selected for the Liaoning BaiQianWan Talents Program and recognized among the High-level Talents of Shenyang in the same year. His earlier contributions earned the Progress in Science and Technology Award from both Liaoning Province and Shenyang City. Collectively, these honors reflect Liang’s sustained excellence, leadership, and innovation in aerospace engineering, intelligent systems, and multi-agent control research, positioning him as a leading scientist of his generation.

Publication Top Notes

Title: Design and Development of Full Self-Service Smart Shopping System for Unmanned Supermarket
Year: 2025

Title: STSLAM: Robust Visual SLAM in Dynamic Scenes via Image Segmentation and Instance Tracking
Year: 2025

Title: Real-Time Semantic Octree Mapping under Aerial-Ground Cooperative System
Year: 2025

Title: Collaborative Pursuit-Evasion Game of Multi-UAVs Based on Apollonius Circle in the Environment with Obstacle
Year: 2023

Title: Design and Development of Ground Station for UAV/UGV Heterogeneous Collaborative System
Year: 2021

Title: Fault-Tolerant Control for the Multi-Quadrotors Cooperative Transportation under Suspension Failures
Year: 2021

Title: Target Tactical Intention Recognition in Multiaircraft Cooperative Air Combat
Year: 2021

Title: Collaborative Pursuit-Evasion Strategy of UAV/UGV Heterogeneous System in Complex Three-Dimensional Polygonal Environment
Year: 2020

Title: Moving Target Tracking Method for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle/Unmanned Ground Vehicle Heterogeneous System Based on AprilTags
Year: 2020

Title: Moving Target Tracking of UAV/UGV Heterogeneous System Based on Quick Response Code
Year: 2019

Title: Real-Time Moving Target Tracking Algorithm of UAV/UGV Heterogeneous Collaborative System in Complex Background
Year: 2019

Title: A Geometrical Path Planning Method for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in 2D/3D Complex Environment
Year: 2018

Conclusion

Xiao Liang demonstrates a strong combination of scholarly excellence, technological innovation, and leadership in the field of unmanned systems and intelligent robotics. His contributions to UAV/UGV heterogeneous collaboration, robust control, and path planning strategies position him as a highly competitive candidate for the Research for Outstanding Scientist Award. With further efforts toward global collaboration and broader application of his research outcomes, his profile will continue to strengthen and align well with the award’s standards of excellence.

Amin Najafi | Robotics and Automation | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Amin Najafi | Robotics and Automation | Best Researcher Award

PhD candidate at University of Zanjan, Iran.

Amin Najafi is a researcher specializing in advanced fault-tolerant control, robotics, and intelligent transportation systems. His expertise lies in designing resilient control algorithms for UAVs, MAGLEV trains, and autonomous guidance systems. Through a strong portfolio of high-quality publications, Najafi has contributed significantly to enhancing the stability, safety, and performance of robotic systems operating under uncertain and fault-prone conditions. His work in adaptive barrier sliding mode control and finite-time stabilization has been widely recognized for bridging theoretical advancements with practical applications. Najafi’s research has appeared in leading journals, including IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification, Mathematics, ISA Transactions, and the Journal of Vibration and Control. Beyond research, he actively contributes to the scientific community through peer-review engagements across prestigious journals. His growing influence demonstrates his commitment to advancing robust, intelligent, and reliable autonomous systems, making him a promising candidate for recognition in robotics and automation research.

Professional Profile

Google Scholar | Scopus | ORCID

Education

Amin Najafi’s academic training has been grounded in control engineering, robotics, and automation. His education equipped him with advanced knowledge in nonlinear control, adaptive systems, and fault-tolerant design, laying a strong foundation for tackling complex challenges in autonomous platforms. Building on this foundation, Najafi engaged deeply with theories of stability, guidance, and fault diagnosis while also exploring practical aspects of UAVs and intelligent transportation. His progression through academic programs allowed him to develop both analytical rigor and applied research capabilities. The interdisciplinary nature of his training helped him connect mathematics, control theory, and engineering applications, which is reflected in his publications that combine theoretical robustness with engineering relevance. Najafi’s educational journey reflects a balance of theory and practice, giving him the ability to produce impactful work that speaks to both the academic community and the broader engineering industry in robotics and automation.

Experience

Amin Najafi has developed his career around solving critical problems in robotics, automation, and transportation electrification. His research experience includes designing innovative fault-tolerant controllers for quadrotor UAVs, advancing resilient strategies for MAGLEV train systems, and contributing to aerospace and defense-related guidance systems. His international collaborations with researchers such as S. Mobayen, A. Fekih, and L. Fridman demonstrate his ability to work within diverse, high-caliber teams. Najafi has also built strong credentials as a peer reviewer, having reviewed more than 60 manuscripts for prestigious journals including IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification, IEEE Access, and the Asian Journal of Control. This dual role as an author and reviewer highlights both his subject matter expertise and his standing in the global robotics and control community. Through his experience, he has consistently contributed to advancing autonomous and fault-resilient systems, ensuring his research holds both academic and applied significance.

Research Focus

Najafi’s research is anchored in fault-tolerant control, nonlinear dynamics, and resilient robotics. His primary focus lies in developing adaptive barrier sliding mode controllers, finite-time stabilization strategies, and robust diagnosis methods for actuator faults. UAVs represent a central application in his portfolio, where he has addressed actuator reliability, real-time guidance, and performance optimization under uncertain conditions. Beyond UAVs, he has extended his contributions to MAGLEV trains and interceptor-target systems, demonstrating the versatility of his control strategies. His work is characterized by integrating theoretical rigor, such as linear matrix inequality approaches, with real-world engineering challenges, making his contributions impactful across multiple domains. The broader vision of his research is to enable safe, intelligent, and adaptive robotic systems capable of operating in dynamic and fault-prone environments. By combining control theory with automation and robotics, Najafi continues to advance the frontiers of resilient and intelligent autonomous technologies.

Publication Top Notes

Title: Adaptive Barrier Fast Terminal Sliding Mode Actuator Fault-Tolerant Control Approach for Quadrotor UAVs
Authors: A. Najafi, M.T. Vu, S. Mobayen, J.H. Asad, A. Fekih
Journal: Mathematics.
Citations: 51
Summary: Proposes an adaptive barrier fast terminal sliding mode controller for quadrotor UAVs. Ensures finite-time stability, fault tolerance, and resilience against actuator faults with validated simulations.

Title: Design of Linear Matrix Inequality-Based Adaptive Barrier Global Sliding Mode Fault-Tolerant Control for Uncertain Systems with Faulty Actuators
Authors: K. Naseri, M.T. Vu, S. Mobayen, A. Najafi, A. Fekih
Journal: Mathematics.
Citations: 22
Summary: Introduces an LMI-based adaptive barrier global sliding mode controller. Provides robust stability and effective fault management in uncertain nonlinear systems.

Title: Robust Adaptive Fault-Tolerant Control for MAGLEV Train Systems: A Non-Singular Finite-Time Approach
Authors: A. Najafi, S. Mobayen, S.H. Rouhani, Z. Mokhtare, A. Jalilvand, L. Fridman, et al.
Journal: IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification.
Citations: 3
Summary: Develops a finite-time robust adaptive controller for MAGLEV trains. Enhances fault tolerance, passenger safety, and system robustness under disturbances.

Title: Multiple Actuator Fault Diagnosis Based on Parity Space for Quadrotor System
Authors: A. Najafi, D. Bustan
Journal: Journal of Aeronautical Engineering (JOAE).
Citations: 2
Summary: Presents a parity-space-based approach to detect and isolate multiple actuator faults in quadrotors, ensuring reliable UAV performance.

Title: Design of Adaptive Barrier Function-Based Backstepping Finite-Time Guidance Control for Interceptor-Target Systems
Authors: Z. Mokhtare, M.A. Sepestanki, S. Mobayen, A. Najafi, W. Assawinchaichote, et al.
Journal: Journal of Vibration and Control.
Citations: –
Summary: Proposes a backstepping control method with adaptive barrier functions for interceptor-target systems. Guarantees finite-time convergence and robust guidance under uncertainties.

Conclusion

Amin Najafi demonstrates strong potential and achievement in fault-tolerant control systems for UAVs and transportation applications, with impactful publications, innovative methodologies, and active engagement in peer review. While there is scope for growth in terms of citation impact and broader collaborations, his research contributions are highly relevant to the advancement of resilient and intelligent autonomous systems. He can be considered a suitable and promising candidate for the Best Researcher Award, particularly within the subject category of Control Systems, UAVs, and Intelligent Transportation.