Keynote Speakers
Keynote: Human-Robot Collaboration: Challenges, Enabling Methodologies and Case Studies
Dikai Liu, PhD
Distinguished Professor, University of Technology Sydney
Director, ARC Research Hub for Human-Robot Teaming for Sustainable and Resilient Construction
School of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
Weblink: https://profiles.uts.edu.au/Dikai.Liu
Abstract
As robotics and AI advance rapidly, robots are becoming increasingly capable of operating collaboratively with humans. This evolution will profoundly transform the relationship between humans and intelligent robots empowered by AI. This talk will explore the evolving field of human-robot collaboration. Challenges and enabling methodologies will be discussed. Through a series of case studies, we will examine how intelligent robots are being designed to work alongside humans in various applications, including civil infrastructure maintenance, construction, and manufacturing. We will also discuss the dynamics of collaboration between humans and robots, examining issues such as trust, computational modelling, physical and cognitive workload, and brain-robot interface. By reflecting on lessons learnt from these case studies, we will highlight both successes and challenges.
Biography
Dikai Liu is a distinguished professor at the Robotics Institute of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and an IEEE RAS Distinguished Lecturer. He is Director of the ARC Research Hub for Human-Robot Teaming for Sustainable and Resilient Construction (2025-2030). He served as Co-Director of the UTS Centre for Autonomous Systems (2013-2019). His research interest lies in robotics, with a focus on field robotics and human-robot collaboration. In addition to conducting fundamental robotics research, he has been instrumental in transforming robotics research into real industry applications. Examples include autonomous robots for bridge maintenance, bio-inspired climbing robots for inspection of confined space, intelligent robotic co-worker for human-robot collaborative abrasive blasting, smart hoist for patient transfer, and autonomous robots for underwater structure maintenance. Since 2006, his research has received over 20 Best Paper and Research/Engineering Excellence awards, including the 2024 IEEE IROS Harashima Award, the 2019 UTS Medal for Research Impact, the 2019 ASME DED Leonardo da Vinci Award, and the 2016 Australian Engineering Excellence Awards. His research has been featured by reputable newspapers and TV news channels, such as the BBC, ABC, SBS, TVBS (Taiwan), Sydney Morning Herald, 7News, AFR, and The Robot Report (USA).