Zhongyuan LIAO

Zhongyuan LIAO

An interdisciplinary researcher

CV

🎓Education
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 09/2021 - 08/2024
Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS)
Ph.D. in IIP (Smart Manufacturing)
Supervisor: Prof. Yi Cai, Mingming Fan
South China University of Technology 09/2018 - 06/2021
School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering
Supervisor: Prof. Yingjun Wang
South China University of Technology 09/2014 - 06/2018
School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering
Supervisor: Prof. Zhijia Xu
💼Professional Experience
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 09/2024 - now
Postdoctoral Fellow, Hong Kong Center for Construction Robotics (HKCRC)
Supervisor: Prof. Michael Yu WANG
North Carolina State University, USA 2024
Visiting Scholar, Dept. of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Supervisor: Prof. Yuan-Shin Lee
Peking University, China 2024
Visiting Student, College of Engineering
Supervisor: Prof. Ke Liu
🛠️Internship
  • ZWCAD Co. Ltd, Graphic Algorithm Engineer 2021
  • Guangzhou Tongda Auto Electric Co. LTD, Mechanical Structure Engineer 2017
🔬Research Interest
  • Robot Manipulation
  • Tactile Sensor
  • Embodied AI & Skill
  • Digital Twin
  • Reconfigurable Soft Robots
  • Topology/Shape Optimization
  • Metamaterial Design
  • Additive Manufacturing
  • AR/VR/MR
  • Human-Robot Interaction
🏆Honors and Awards
  • Outstanding Paper Award of NAMRC51 2023
  • CMES Best Paper Award 2023
  • National Scholarship (Twice) 2019, 2020
  • HKUST Overseas Research Award 2024
  • Outstanding Graduate Student of Guangdong Province 2021
  • HKUST Postgraduate Scholarship 2021-2024
  • Meritorious Winner of COMAP’s MCM 2017
  • First Prize Winner in Guangdong Province of CUMCM 2016
  • School Scholarship (Triple) 2015–2018
🧰Skills
CAD/CAE Manufacturing Robotics IoT AR/VR User-Centered Design
Coding & Tools
Arduino ROS SolidWorks C++ Python PyTorch TensorFlow Matlab Unity lerobot
📚Teaching
  • Teaching Assistant at HKUST(GZ) Spring 2023
    Cross-disciplinary Research Methods I (UCMP 6010)
  • Teaching Assistant at HKUST(GZ) Fall 2022
    Design for Additive Manufacturing (SMMG 6000A)
  • Teaching Assistant at SCUT Spring 2019
    Fluid Mechanics
📝Publication
Refereed Journal Papers
  1. L. Zhang, Y. Bian, W. Wei, Z. Liao, M. Cang, A. Yang, H. Zhi, W. Zhang, M. Chen, H. Cui, Y. Cai. (2025). Dendrite-Inspired and 3D Printed Multidirectional Sensing Piezoresistive Metamaterials. Advanced Functional Materials, 2508987.
  2. Zhongyuan Liao, Wei, W., Zhang, L., Gao, Y., & Cai, Y. (2025). An augmented reality-enabled digital twin system for reconfigurable soft robots: Visualization, simulation and interaction. Computers in Industry, 168, 104285.
  3. Wei W., Zhang L., Zhongyuan Liao and Cai Y.* (2024). Aerosol Jet Printing of Advanced Capacitive Strain Gauge for Vibration Monitoring of Human Body. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 138, 31–43.
  4. Zhongyuan Liao and Cai Y.* (2024). AR-enhanced digital twin for human-robot interaction in manufacturing systems. Energy, Ecology and Environment, 9, 530–548.
  5. Zhongyuan Liao, Li T., Wang Y., Cai Y.* (2023). Soft Pneumatic Actuator Optimal Design Based on Isogeometric Analysis. Manufacturing Letters, 35, 55-63. Presented at the 51st SME North American Manufacturing Research Conference, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA, June 12-16, 2023.
  6. Li, T., Zhongyuan Liao, Cai Y.* (2023). Physical Modeling for Digital Twin of Continuous Damping Control Damper. Journal of Manufacturing Processes, 99, 96–104. Outstanding Paper Award of NAMRC51
  7. Chen, J., Zhongyuan Liao, Cai Y.* (2023). Enhancing Size Perception with True-Size Viewing CAD plug-in and Cloud-enabled AR APP. Computer-Aided Design and Applications, 20(6), 1128-1140.
  8. Zheng Y., Xiang J., Zhongyuan Liao, Li P., Cai X., Chen Z., & Huang J. (2023). Hierarchical topology optimization with varying microstructural aspect ratios. Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements, 156, 34–47.
  9. Zhongyuan Liao, Chen J., Cai Y.* (2023). Reconfigurable Soft Robots based on Modular Design. Computer-Aided Design and Applications, 20(6), 1141-1153.
  10. Zhongyuan Liao, Y. Wang, L. Gao, & Z. Wang. (2022). Deep-learning-based isogeometric inverse design for tetra-chiral auxetics. Composite Structures, 280, 114808.
  11. Y. Wang, Zhongyuan Liao, S. Shi, Z. Wang, & L. Hien Poh. (2020). Data-Driven Structural Design Optimization for Petal-Shaped Auxetics Using Isogeometric Analysis. Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, 122(2), 433–458. 2023 Best Paper Award
  12. Y. Wang, Zhongyuan Liao, M. Ye, Y. Zhang, W. Li, & Z. Xia. (2020). An efficient isogeometric topology optimization using multilevel mesh, MGCG and local-update strategy. Advances in Engineering Software, 139, 102733. ESI Highly Cited Paper
  13. Y. Zheng, Y. Wang, X. Lu, Zhongyuan Liao, & J. Qu. (2020). Evolutionary topology optimization for mechanical metamaterials with auxetic property. International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 179, 105638.
  14. Zhongyuan Liao, Y. Wang, & S. Wang. (2019). Graded-density Lattice Structure Optimization Design Based on Topology Optimization. Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 55(8), 65. Top 10 Most Cited Papers of Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering in 2019, Fifth Excellent Paper Award
  15. Zhongyuan Liao, Y. Zhang, Y. Wang, & W. Li. (2019). A triple acceleration method for topology optimization. Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, 60(2), 727–744.
Conference Proceedings
  1. Liao, Z., Du, Y., Duan, J., Liang, H., & Wang, M. Y. (2025). Quantitative Hardness Assessment with Vision-based Tactile Sensing for Fruit Classification and Grasping. Accepted to Novel Approaches for Precision Agriculture and Forestry with Autonomous Robots IEEE ICRA Workshop, Atlanta, USA, May.
  2. Zhongyuan Liao, Wei W., Zhang L., Cai Y.* (2024). Sensor Fusion-based Parameterized Curve-driven Modeling for Digital Twin of Reconfigurable Soft Robot. In Proceedings of The 6th IEEE/IFToMM International Conference on Reconfigurable Mechanisms and Robots, Chicago, USA, June.
  3. Liao, Z. and Cai, Y.* (2024). Computer Vision-based Decision-making Framework for Reconfigurable Soft Robot Manipulation. In 51st International Conference on Computers and Industrial Engineering (CIE), Kensington Campus, UNSW Sydney, Australia, December 9-11.
  4. Zhongyuan Liao, Cai, Y.* (2023). An Augmented Reality-Based Digital Twin System for Enhancing Human-Robot Interaction in Manufacturing. Oral presentation at 2023 Annual International Conference for Chinese Scholars in Industrial Engineering, Guangzhou, China, August 10-12.
  5. Zhongyuan Liao, Chen, J., Cai Y.* (2022). Reconfigurable Soft Robots based on Modular Design. In Proceedings of the 19th annual International CAD Conference (pp. 324-328), Beijing, China, July 11-13.
  6. Wang Y., Zhongyuan Liao, Zhang Y. (2019). A New High-efficiency Isogeometric Topology Optimization. In The 13th World Congress of Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, Beijing, China, May 19-24.
  7. Zhongyuan Liao, Wang, Y. (2019). Multiple-accelerated isogeometric topology optimization method. Poster at Chinese Congress of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Hangzhou, China, Summer.
  8. Zhongyuan Liao, Wang, Y. (2018). The topology optimization based on triple-accelerated method. Oral presentation at 2018 National Conference on Solid Mechanics, Harbin, China, Winter.
Thesis
  1. Zhongyuan Liao. AR-enhanced Digital Twin System for Reconfigurable Soft Robots. PhD Thesis, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
  2. Zhongyuan Liao. Research on an Efficient Structure Optimization Method based on Isogeometric Analysis. Master Thesis, South China University of Technology.
  3. Zhongyuan Liao. Design of High-performance Variable-density Lattice Connecting Rod based on Topology Optimization. Bachelor Thesis, South China University of Technology.
Patents
  1. Wang Yingjun, Zhongyuan Liao. A triple acceleration topology optimization method. C.N. Patent: CN109840348B, issued in 2023.
  2. Wang Yingjun, Yang Yuhao, Zhongyuan Liao. The automatic construction method and system of editable model with equal geometric topology optimization results. C.N. Patent: CN112926207B, issued in 2022.
  3. Wang Yingjun, Zhongyuan Liao. Software copyright: Isogeometric analysis software based on embedded domain reconstruction model (V1.0); Registration Number: 2021SR0045889, issued.