Dr. Xin Zhou | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Xin Zhou | Engineering – Lecture at Shanghai University of Electric Power, China

Dr. Xin Zhou is a passionate and emerging researcher in the field of automation engineering, currently serving as a lecturer at Shanghai University of Electric Power. With a solid international educational background and hands-on research in robotics and intelligent optimization, he brings both academic insight and practical relevance to his work. Dr. Zhou has focused his career on robotic path planning, artificial intelligence in manufacturing, and intelligent control systems. His rapid contributions to both the theoretical foundations and industrial applications of intelligent robotics make him a promising candidate for the Best Researcher Award.

Education:

Dr. Zhou’s academic path spans several prestigious institutions across China, the UK, and Australia. He received his Ph.D. in Control Science and Engineering from East China University of Science and Technology in 2022, concentrating on intelligent algorithms and robotic optimization. He earned his Master’s degree in Digital Systems and Communication Engineering from the Australian National University (2016–2017), developing skills in communication and embedded systems. His undergraduate training was jointly conducted at the University of Liverpool and Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (2011–2015), where he majored in Electrical Engineering and Automation, providing a strong technical foundation for his current work.

Profile:

Orcid

Experience:

Since August 2022, Dr. Zhou has been working as a lecturer at the School of Automation Engineering, Shanghai University of Electric Power. In this position, he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses while engaging in active research. He has participated in two completed projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), focusing on welding robotics and production scheduling under uncertainty. Dr. Zhou is also leading a current industry-funded research project on motion planning algorithms for robotic systems used in complex maintenance tasks. His combination of academic research and industrial cooperation demonstrates a comprehensive and practical research profile.

Research Interest:

Dr. Zhou’s primary research interests include robotic path planning, multi-objective optimization, intelligent algorithms, and smart manufacturing systems. He specializes in developing evolutionary algorithms and applying them to real-world robotic control challenges, especially in arc welding scenarios. His work aims to enhance the intelligence, flexibility, and adaptability of autonomous robotic systems, contributing to Industry 4.0 initiatives. He is particularly known for his work on decomposition-based optimization methods and real-time obstacle avoidance strategies.

Awards:

While Dr. Zhou is still early in his career, he has already made notable contributions to applied innovation, as evidenced by three Chinese patents in the area of robotic path planning. These patents include novel systems and methods for arc welding robot navigation and gantry-type robotic control, with the most recent filed in December 2023. His work in patented technologies reflects his practical approach to academic research and commitment to industry-aligned solutions.

Publications:

Dr. Zhou has authored and co-authored several influential journal papers. Below are seven key publications, with emojis, journal names, publication years, and citation notes:

📘 A decomposition-based multiobjective evolutionary algorithm with weight vector adaptation – Swarm and Evolutionary Computation, 2021. Cited for its novel adaptive mechanism in multi-objective optimization.

🤖 An approach for solving the three-objective arc welding robot path planning problem – Engineering Optimization, 2023. Frequently referenced in robotics and optimization studies.

🛠️ Online obstacle avoidance path planning and application for arc welding robot – Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing, 2022. Cited in real-time control literature.

🔍 A Collision-free path planning approach based on rule-guided lazy-PRM with repulsion field for gantry welding robots – Robotics and Autonomous Systems, 2024. Recent paper gaining citations in dynamic path planning.

📚 A survey of welding robot intelligent path optimization – Journal of Manufacturing Processes, 2021. Serves as a key reference for scholars in the welding robotics field.

🧠 Rule-based adaptive optimization strategies in robotic welding systems – Under review, targeted at IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics.

🔄 Multi-objective task sequencing and trajectory planning under dynamic constraints – Manuscript in progress for Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing.

Conclusion:

Dr. Xin Zhou is a standout young researcher whose work in robotic path planning and intelligent optimization has already made a significant impact in the field of automation. His research integrates high-level algorithm development with real-world engineering applications, making his contributions both academically valuable and practically useful. With a growing body of well-cited publications, involvement in both national and industry-sponsored projects, and active innovation through patents, Dr. Zhou is a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award. His trajectory reflects both dedication and innovation, and he continues to show strong potential to lead transformative work in intelligent automation in the years ahead.

Mr.Muhammad Noman Shahid | Mechanical Engineering | Best Researcher Award

MS Scholar Capital University of Science and Technology Pakistan

Muhammad Noman Shahid is a dedicated Mechanical Engineer currently pursuing an MS in Mechanical Engineering at CUST, Islamabad. With a CGPA of 4.00/4.00 and a solid foundation in mechanical engineering principles, Muhammad’s expertise spans FEA, CFD, topological optimization, and CAD modeling. His academic and professional journey reflects his commitment to innovation and excellence in the engineering field.

Education

🎓 Muhammad Noman Shahid is completing his MS in Mechanical Engineering at Capital University of Science and Technology (CUST), Islamabad, with an expected graduation date of July 2025 and a perfect CGPA of 4.00/4.00. He also holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the same institution, achieved from 2019 to 2023, where he worked on the “Design and Development of Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) Machine for Post Knee Surgery Rehabilitation” as his final year design project.

Experience

💼 Muhammad’s professional experience includes an internship at SABRO Air Conditioning Pakistan in Islamabad, where he gained over 200 hours of hands-on experience in various HVAC manufacturing processes. His contributions included optimizing production time, ensuring product integrity, and enhancing overall HVAC system efficiency. Muhammad has also demonstrated leadership in numerous extracurricular roles, such as Focal Person at Pakistan Nuclear Society and President Media at Al-Muhandis Society, CUST.

Awards and Funding

🏅 Muhammad has received several accolades for his academic excellence and innovative projects. In 2024, he achieved the Chancellor’s Honor Roll and secured the 3rd position in Mechanical Engineering (Entrepreneurship) at the 2nd Federal Engineering Capstone Expo. He also received IGNITE funding under the National Technology Fund’s Grossroot ICT Research Initiative for his final year design project.

Publications

📚 Muhammad has published significant research work, including:

“Computational Investigation of the Fluidic Properties of Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) Structures in Tissue Engineering,” Designs, vol. 8, no. 4, 2024. Link

Cited by: Articles in tissue engineering and fluid dynamics journals.

“A Biomechanical Approach for Computational Assessment of Heavy Payload Robots in Human-Robot Accident Scenarios for Industry 4.0,” Nanotechnology Reviews, 2023. [In Review]