Projects per year
Personal profile
Personal profile
Dr. Fan Zhang joined the School of Robotics at XJTLU as an Assistant Professor in Aug. 2023. Dr. Zhang is an inter-disciplinary researcher with a multi-disciplinary background in Mechanical Engineering and Automation (B.Eng. at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, CN), Robotics (M.Sc. with Distinction at King’s College London, UK), and Material Perception (Ph.D. at TU Delft, NL; Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship). Prior to joining XJTLU, Dr. Zhang worked as an external Postdoctoral Researcher for Procter & Gamble (DE) in Multisensory Perception and Consumer Knowledge research from Dec.2018 to Jun.2019, and later as Research Fellow for University of Birmingham (UK) in Computational Modelling and Cognitive Robotics since Dec. 2019.
Research interests
Cognitive Robotics
Dr. Zhang is motivated to integrate the state-of-the-art AI developments with human-factor studies for mechanistic explanations, validations, and real-life applications in Cognitive Robotics. His research interests cover but are not limited to the following topics: Computer Vision, Computer Graphics, 3D Modelling Rendering, Intelligent Manufacturing, Human-Computer/Robot-Interaction, Interactive UX/UI Design, Mid-/High-level Human Vision, Visual Attention, Ecological Optics and Perception of Materials, Light, Shapes, etc.
Experience
Assistant Professor, School of Robotics, XJTLU, 2023 - Present
Programme Director of MSc Advanced Robotics Systems, XJTLU, 2024 - Present
Research Fellow, University of Birmingham, 2019-2023
Postdoctoral Researcher, Delft University of Technology; Procter Gamble (DE), 2018-2019
Teaching
As Module Leader:
RBE403TC - Intelligent Robotics and Applications
RBE404TC - Application of Cutting Edge Technologies in Robotics Design
(Previous) co-teach:
RBE001 - Introductions to Intelligent Robotics
RBE103TC - Electronic Circuits - Analogue and Digital
RBE105TC - Introduction to Intelligent Robotics and Application
RBE402TC - Robotics Software Design and Machine Learning
ResearchDesign (UG, Delft University of Technology, AY17/18)
Practical Skills for Computational Neuroscience and Cognitive Robotics (PG, University of Birmingham, AY20/21-AY22/23)
Awards and honours
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie PhD Fellowship, 2013
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Related documents
Education/Academic qualification
Ph.D., Delft University of Technology, 2019
M.Sc. in Robotics, King's College London, 2013
B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2011
Research areas
- Human-robot Interaction
- Cognitive Robotics
- Computational Neuroscience
- Computer Vision
- Medical Imaging
- Personal Health
Person Types
- Staff
Fingerprint
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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CoESE: EIS (EEH+Industry+Society) TechUp Alliance Accelerates the Prototype Development of Student’ Entrepreneurial Syntegrative Projects
Zhang, B. (PI), Wu, T. (Team member), Lo, J. (Team member), Liu, K. (Team member), He, T. (Team member), Zhao, Y. (Team member), Zhang, F. (Team member), Dang, K. (Team member), Hu, B. (Team member), Song, J. (Team member) & Huang, T. (Team member)
30/06/25 → 31/05/27
Project: Internal Research Project
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Decision-making modelling for Autonomous Driving via Explainable AI and Cognitive Robotics
Zhang, F. (PI)
1/01/24 → 31/12/26
Project: Internal Research Project
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SBE-UKRI: Integrating Vision and Action through Selection History
Heinke, D. (PI) & Zhang, F. (CoI)
9/12/19 → 9/12/22
Project: Governmental Research Project
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Modeling Multi-sensory Premium-ness Perception
Zhang, F. (CoI) & Pont, S. (PI)
17/12/18 → 16/06/19
Project: Collaborative Research Project
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PRISM - Perceptual Representation of Illumination, Shape & Material
Zhang, F. (Team member), Fleming, R. W. (PI) & Pont, S. (CoPI)
18/11/13 → 17/11/17
Project: Governmental Research Project
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Characterizing individual differences in selection history bias manifested in goal-directed reaching movements
Zhang, F., Makwana, M., Heinke, D. & Song, J.-H., 7 Apr 2025, In: Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics. p. 1-12Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Computational modelling reveals the influence of object similarity and proximity on visually guided movements
Patil, M., Heinke, D. & Zhang, F., 25 Feb 2025, In: PeerJ. 13, 2, e18953.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
Cost-Based Non-deep Learning for Planning and Decision-Making Towards Enhancing Autonomous Driving’s Safety and Comfort
Gan, S., Wu, S., Luo, Y. & Zhang, F., 2025, Selected Proceedings from the 2nd International Conference on Intelligent Manufacturing and Robotics, ICIMR 2024 - Advances in Intelligent Manufacturing and Robotics. Chen, W., Ping Tan, A. H., Luo, Y., Huang, L., Zhu, Y., PP Abdul Majeed, A., Zhang, F., Yan, Y. & Liu, C. (eds.). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, p. 234-252 19 p. (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems; vol. 1316 LNNS).Research output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Proceeding › peer-review
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Recognition and Control of a Chinese Pinyin Sign Language Robot via a Cognitive Robotics Approach
Cui, H., Luo, Y. & Zhang, F., 2025, Selected Proceedings from the 2nd International Conference on Intelligent Manufacturing and Robotics, ICIMR 2024 - Advances in Intelligent Manufacturing and Robotics. Chen, W., Ping Tan, A. H., Luo, Y., Huang, L., Zhu, Y., PP Abdul Majeed, A., Zhang, F., Yan, Y. & Liu, C. (eds.). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, p. 307-324 18 p. (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems; vol. 1316 LNNS).Research output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Proceeding › peer-review
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Towards Modelling Human Driving: Testing the Influence of Driving Mode and Distraction Types in a VR Simulator
Liu, J., Li, Y. & Zhang, F., 29 Oct 2025, Proceedings of the Twelfth International Symposium of Chinese CHI: CHCHI '24. Association for Computing Machinery, p. 31-46 16 p. (CHCHI '24).Research output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Proceeding › peer-review
Open Access
Activities
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Human-robot interaction via AR/VR
Fan Zhang (Supervisor) & Hongyu Yang (Co-supervisor)
Jun 2025 → Aug 2025Activity: Supervision › Completed SURF Project
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Blood vessel segmentation towards ophthalmological diagnostics via computer vision and deep learning
Fan Zhang (Supervisor) & Guojie Li (Co-supervisor)
Jun 2025 → Aug 2025Activity: Supervision › Completed SURF Project
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Journal of Vision (Journal)
Fan Zhang (Reviewer)
25 Apr 2025Activity: Peer-review and editorial work of publications › Publication Peer-review
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Enhancing Autonomous Driving Systems through Explainable AI: Human-Robot Interaction and Cognitive Modelling for Partially and Highly Automated Vehicles
Fan Zhang (Supervisor), Sze-Hong Teh (Co-supervisor) & Baoru Huang (Co-supervisor)
4 Mar 2025 → 28 Feb 2029Activity: Supervision › PhD Supervision
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Al and Cognitive Robotics towards Visual-tactile Perception of Materials and Human-Robot Interaction
Zhang, F. (Supervisor), Ateeq, M. (Co-supervisor) & Huang, B. (Co-supervisor)
2 Jan 2025 → 2028Activity: Supervision › PhD Supervision