Kam K. Leang, Ph.D.
Professor and Director of the DARC Lab
ASME Fellow
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
Robotics Center, University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
[Personal web site] [Link to Google Citation Report][LinkedIn]
Education
- Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle WA
Advisor: Santosh Devasia; Specialization: Dynamic systems and controls; mechatronics; robotics
Dissertation: “Iterative Learning Control of Hysteresis in Piezo-based Nano-positioners: Theory and Application in Atomic Force Microscopes” [ Click here to download (PDF) ] - M.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah
- B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah
Honors and awards
- ASME Fellow (2020)
- IEEE Senior Member (2020)
- 2018 William R. and Erlyn J. Gould Distinguished Lecturer on Technology and the Quality of Life
- 2017 ASME Dynamic Systems and Control Conference (DSCC) Student Best Paper Award (Student author: Dejun Guo)
- 2015 ASME Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems (SMASIS) Conference Student Best Paper Award (Student authors: J. Carrico and N. Traeden)
- 2014 Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regent’s Rising Researcher of the Year Award
- 2013 College of Engineering Faculty Excellence Award, University of Nevada, Reno
- University of Nevada, Reno College of Engineering Senior Scholar Mentor; Senior Scholar: Charley Voos (2011-2012)
- VCU NBSE Professor of the Year Award (2006-2007)
- National Science Foundation GK-12 Fellow (2001-04)
- Univ. of Utah, College of Engin. Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award (1999)
- Univ. of Utah, Teaching Assistant of the Year Awards (1997-98, 1998-99)
- NSF Human and Computer Interface, and Intelligent Control Traineeship (1999)
Academic positions
- Professor, Univ. of Utah (2020 – present)
- Associate Prof., Univ. of Utah (2014 – 2020)
- Associate Prof., Univ. of Nevada Reno (2011 – 2014)
- Assistant Prof., Univ. of Nevada Reno and Virginia Commonwealth Univ. (2005-2011)
- Research Associate, Univ. of Washington (January 2005 – July 2005)
Editorial positions (journals and conferences)
- Associate Editor, ASME Letters in Dynamic Systems and Control (Sept. 2019 – present)
- Associate Editor, Mechatronics, The Science of Intelligent Machines, Elsevier (January 2016 – present)
- Associate Editor, 2024 American Control Conference (ACC) (Sept. – December 2023)
- Associate Editor, 2024 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) (Sept.-Dec., 2023)
- Associate Editor, Int. J. of Intelligent Robotics and Applications (IJIRA) (April 2016 – 2020)
- Associate Editor, 8th IFAC Symposium on Mechatronic Systems (MECHATRONICS 2019) and the 11th IFAC Symposium on Nonlinear Control Systems (NOLCOS 2019)
- Associate Editor, IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) 2019
- Lead Guest Editor, Focus Section on Soft Actuators, Sensors, and Components, IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics (Sept 2017 – February 2019)
- Guest Editor, Focus Section on Advances in Soft Robotics, Int. J. of Intelligent Robotics and Applications (IJIRA) (June 2016 – 2017)
- Associate Editor, Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering, Nature Publishing (2015–2019)
- Associate Editor, IEEE Control Systems Magazine (2012–2017)
- Associate Editor, International Symposium on Flexible Automation, Cleveland, Ohio, August 1-3, 2016.
- Associate Editor, IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) 2016
- Technical Editor, IEEE/ASME Trans. Mechatronics (2012–2015)
- Associate Editor, IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics July 7-11, 2015. Busan, Korea.
- Guest Editor, Int. J. Smart and Nano Materials (2011-2012)
- Associate Editor, 15th International Conference on Advanced Robotics (ICAR 2011), Tallin, Estonia, June 20-23, 2011.
Conference Organization
- Program Chair, American Control Conference 2024
- Workshop Chair, 2023 Modeling, Estimation, and Control Conference (MECC), Lake Tahoe, NV
- Finance Chair, American Control Conference 2022, Atlanta, GA
- Finance Chair, IEEE/ASME Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics (AIM) Conference, 2023, Seattle, WA
- Workshops Chair, 2020 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), Las Vegas, Nevada (October 24-30)
- Operating Committee Member, Local Arrangements Chair, American Control Conference 2020
- General Chair, 2019 ASME Dynamic Systems and Control Conference (DSCC)
- Operating Committee Member, Publicity Chair, American Control Conference 2016
- Program Committee Member, American Control Conference 2015
- Program Committee Member, American Control Conference 2014
Current graduate and student scholars
DARC Lab group, November 2016.
Ph.D and M.S. Graduate Student Scholars
- J. Anderson, Ph.D. Candidate
- S. McKee, Ph.D. Candidate
- J. Allred, MS
- B. Larsen, MS
- W. S. Nagel, Ph.D. (April 2022)
Dissertation title: “Long-Range Low-Coupling Dual-Stage Nanopositioning: Design and Control for High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy”. Dr. Nagel joined Widener University as a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Robotics Engineering Department in Sept. 2022. - J. A. Steiner, Ph.D. (August 2022)
Dissertation title: “Locomotion and Steering of a Magnetic-electroactive Endoluminal Soft Robot” - J. R. Bourne, Ph.D. (April 2020)
Dissertation title: “Decentralized Multi-agent Information-theoretic Target Localization and Estimation: Finding and Predicting Chemical Gas Leak” - X. He, Ph.D. (January 2020)
Dissertation title: “Modeling and control of in-ground-effects on rotorcraft unmanned aerial vehicles” - D. Guo, Ph.D. (August 2019)
Dissertation title: “Dynamic and aggressive image-based flying in GPS-denied environments: estimation, motion planning, and control”. - J. D. Carrico, Ph.D. (August 2018)
Dissertation title: “3D printing, performance characterization, and machine learning control of ionic polymer-metal composite actuators with applications in soft robotics”
Dr. Carrico joined the University of Mary as an Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering on August 2018. - D. Bareiss, Ph.D. (May 2016)
Dissertation title: “Model-based collision avoidance for dynamic single- and multi-robot systems: theory and application in ground and aerial robots” [download dissertation (PDF)] - Y. Shan, Ph.D. (December 2011)
Dissertation title: “Repetitive control for hysteretic systems: theory and application in piezo-based nanopositioners” [download dissertation (PDF)]. - N. Olsen, MS (November 2022)
Thesis title: “Information-Based Mobile Sensor Network Coordination for Localizing and Tracking of an Uncooperative Target” - M. Goodell, MS (April 2022)
Thesis title: “Bayesian Find-and-Consume Strategy for Mobile Robotic Sensor Networks: Estimating and Localizing Multiple Gas Leaks” - G. Kou, MS (June 2021)
Thesis title: “The Effect of Surface Roughness on Quasi-Steady in-Ground Effect for Multirotor Aerial Vehicles” - T. Tyler, MS (May 2019)
Thesis title: “Hygroscopic swelling for 4D fabrication of ionic polymer-metal composite soft-robotic devices” - E. Andersen, MS (October 2018)
Thesis title: “Design and control of a micro aerial vehicle powered with resonant inductive wireless power transfer” - K. Jensen, MS (July 2018)
Thesis title: “Near-Optimal Area Coverage Path Planning for an Energy Constrained Autonomous Mobile Robot: Application to Autonomous Aerial Chemical Sensing” - K. C. Hoffman, MS (July 2018)
Thesis title: “Characterization, Modeling, and Feedforward Compensation of Gas Sensor Dynamics for Aerial Robot Chemical Plume Mapping and Swarm-based Localization” - K. Dockstader, MS (January 2018)
Thesis title: “Design, modeling, and gait control of a rolling quadruped (Roll-U-Ped)” - C. J. Pratt, MS (December 2016)
Thesis title: “Design and modeling of the dynamic underactuated flying-walking (DUCK) robot” [download thesis (PDF)] - M. Tsugawa, MS (August 2014)
Thesis title: “Development of a Tube-Shaped Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite Actuator with Integrated Sensing” - C. J. Dudley, MS (June 2014)
Thesis title: “A Spherical Aerial Terrestrial Robot (ATR)” [download thesis (PDF)] - M. B. Hurd, MS (December 2013)
Thesis title: “Control of a Quadcopter Aerial Robot Using Optic Flow Sensing” [download thesis (PDF)] - M. J. Fleming, MS (May 2012)
Thesis title: “Mitigating IPMC back relaxation through feedforward and feedback control of patterned electrodes ” [download thesis (PDF)] - R. Riddle, MS (August 2011)
Thesis title: “Design and characterization of scanning probe microscopy platform with active electro-thermal microcantilever for multifunctional applications.” [download thesis (PDF)] - Joel Hubbard, MS (July 2011)
Thesis title: “Design and characterization of sectored (patterned) IPMC actuators for propulsion and maneuvering in bio-inspired underwater systems.” [download thesis (PDF)] - S. Ashley, MS (October 2010)
Thesis title: “Application of an Inverse-Hysteresis Iterative Control Algorithm for AFM Fabrication.” [download thesis (PDF)]Seth Ashley is currently employed as Electrical Product Engineer at ALSTOM Power in Richmond, VA. - B. J. Kenton, MS (August 2010)
Thesis title: “Design, characterization, and control of a high-bandwidth serial-kinematic nanopositioning stage for scanning probe microscopy applications” [download thesis (PDF)] - Y. Shan, MS August 2008
Thesis title: “Fabrication and Integrated Feedforward and Feedback Control of Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite Actuators”. [download thesis (PDF)]
Visiting Graduate Student Scholars
- R. Regulski, Visiting Ph.D. Student (Poznan University of Technology, September 2015-December 2015)
Focus: Piezo-driven flapping wing
Undergraduate Student Scholars
- M. Mrotek, Undergraduate researcher (April 2024 – present)
- T. Dixon, Undergraduate researcher (January 2024 – May 2024)
- M. Clancy, Undergraduate researcher (January 2024 – May 2024)
- G. Kuo, Undergraduate researcher (September 2017 – December 2018)
- C. Buchanan, Undergraduate researcher (January 2017 – January 2018)
- I. Adibnazari, Undergraduate researcher (January 2017 – August 2018)
- K. Fluckiger, Undergraduate researcher (September 2016 – December 2017)
- C. Mortensen, Undergraduate researcher (November 9, 2015 – December 2017)
- M. Givens, Undergraduate researcher (January 2015 – May 2017)
- N. Nikolaev, Undergraduate researcher (January 2017 – May 2017)
- J. Schramm, Undergraduate researcher (September 2016 – May 2017)
- C. Wing, Undergraduate researcher (January 2017 – May 2017)
- J. Zubair, Undergraduate researcher (August 2016 – May 2017)
- R. Farr, Undergraduate researcher (August 2016 – December 2016)
- J. Erickson, Engineering Scholars Undergraduate researcher (January 2016 -September 2016)
- G. Cairo, Graduate Preparation Institute (GPI) Undergrad Researcher (June 2015-July 2015)
- R. Jones, Undergraduate researcher (June 2015-August 2015)
- C. Yeaton, Undergraduate researcher (June 2015)
- A. Colburn, Undergraduate researcher (September 2013 — December 2013)
- B. Alber, Undergraduate researcher (September 2013)
- K. Mittal, Undergraduate researcher (July 2012 — May 2013)
- A. Woods, Undergraduate researcher (May 2012 — May 2013)
- M. Smith, Undergraduate researcher (September – December 2011)
- S. Ashmore, Undergraduate researcher (September – December 2011)
- M. B. Hurd, Undergraduate researcher (January – December 2011)
- A. Wirth, Undergraduate research scholar (September 2009 – May 2010)
- C. Song, Undergraduate research scholar (September 2009-December 2009)
- S. Cutler, Undergraduate Research (June 2007 — June 2008)
Project: Modeling and control of piezoelectric actuators for nano/bio technology
Project support: The National Science Foundation, DUE - M. Freed, Undergraduate Research (January 2007 — January 2008)
Projects: (1) Modeling and control of piezoelectric actuators for nano/bio technology, and (2) Finite element modeling of an active AFM cantilever.
Project support: The National Science Foundation, DUE - R. Riddle, Undergraduate Research (January 2008 — June 2008)
Project: Modeling and control of AFM. - M. R. Vaerewyck, Undergraduate Research (September 2007 — June 2008)
Project: Fabrication of a high-speed AFM scanner.
Matthew joined VCU for graduate studies in August 2008. - T. Hall, Undergraduate Research (June 2007 — August 2007)
Project: Optimizing the Design and Fabrication of Ionic Polymer Metal Composite (IPMC) Actuators to Propel an Autonomous Underwater Robot. - R. Brik, K-12 student scholar, Godwin High School, Richmond, VA (June 2006 — June 2008)
Robert joined MIT for undergradute studies in Mechanical Engineering. - J. Dodson, Undergraduate Research (September 2006 — May 2007)
Project: Design and control of a biaxial cell-stretching platform.
After graduating VCU, Jacob attended Virginia Tech and entered Ph.D. program. - G. G. Anderson, Undergraduate Research (January 2006 – June 2006)
Project: Development of control software for a wireless mobile robot.
Project support: VCU CTE Small Grant Award - R. M. Mohr, Undergraduate Research (October 2005 – August 2006)
Project: Control of a shape memory alloy actuator.
After graduating VCU, Ryan attended UC Santa Barbara and entered Ph.D. program. - J. Beck, Undergraduate Research (October 2005 – May 2006)
Project: Hysteresis characterization under charge-feedback control of a LIPCA device
After graduating VCU, James attended Columbia University and entered Masters program.
