Professor Wei Yang Explores the Frontiers of Legged Robotics at HKIAS Distinguished Lecture
On 31 March 2026, the Hong Kong Institute for Advanced Study (HKIAS) at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) had the distinct privilege of hosting Professor Wei Yang, a world-renowned scholar from Zhejiang University and a Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. During his visit, Professor Yang delivered a captivating HKIAS Distinguished Lecture titled “Deep Dynamics & Control on the Locomotion of Legged Robots,” drawing an exceptional attendance rate from faculty, students, and researchers.
The lecture was chaired by Professor Jian Lu, Senior Fellow of HKIAS and Dean of the College of Engineering at CityUHK. In his presentation, Professor Yang shared profound insights into the development of highly mobile and dynamic legged robots. He systematically analyzed the structural differences between legged robots and biological organisms, shedding light on the existing scientific challenges and technical hurdles in the field of bionic robotics. A major highlight of the talk was Professor Yang’s showcase of the outstanding achievements made by the Center for X-Mechanics at Zhejiang University. He detailed the technical approaches, key breakthroughs, and application scenarios behind several of their innovative creations, including the high-mobility quadruped robot “Black Panther,” a highly robust bionic robotic hand, and a high-performance bipedal robot. The audience was highly engaged, reflecting the university community's strong enthusiasm for cutting-edge robotics and advanced mechanics. For more information about the lecture, please click here.
Beyond the distinguished lecture, Professor Yang’s visit facilitated fruitful academic exchanges. He engaged in an in-depth meeting with Professor Lu, fostering discussions on technological advancements and potential future research collaborations between the institutions.
Professor Yang brings immense academic prestige and leadership experience to his research. Earning his PhD in Solid and Structural Mechanics from Brown University in 1985, he is a Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and a Foreign Member of the National Academy of Engineering (USA). He has also been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the Eric Reissner Medal, the Calvin Rice Lecture Award, and the Warner T. Koiter Medal. Furthermore, he served as the President of Zhejiang University from 2006 to 2013 and as the President of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) from 2013 to 2018.
The visit was a resounding success, underscoring HKIAS’s ongoing commitment to bringing top-tier global scholars to CityUHK. By providing a vibrant platform for intellectual exchange, HKIAS continues to inspire the university community and drive forward the frontiers of scientific research.