Changliu Receives the ISFA Young Investigator Award!

Changliu received the Young Investigator Award at International Symposium of Flexible Automation. The quote is:

For significant advancements in intelligent robot control that enables safe and efficient human-robot collaborations for flexible manufacturing.

Changliu’s acceptance speech:

Good afternoon, esteemed colleagues, and fellow researchers. It is an immense honor to stand before you today as the recipient of the Young Investigator Award at the ISFA 2024. I am deeply grateful to the award committee, my mentors, and my peers for recognizing my contributions to the field of flexible automation.

As a young investigator, my journey began with a passion for innovation. The dynamic landscape of flexible automation fascinated me, especially the convergence of robotics, AI, and advanced manufacturing.

I vividly recall that 10 years ago, in a sunny afternoon, I told my advisor that I wanted to work on something different—something that would enable robots to collaborate with humans just like another human would. My advisor smiled and said, “Sure, that’s ambitious. Let’s start with something tangible: how can you make robots safely operate alongside humans, without the need for protective cages.”

And so began my investigation. Starting from my first paper on safety assurance in human-robot interaction, I delved into various aspects of the problem and consistently pushed boundaries: from developing novel control algorithms to exploring innovative sensing capabilities and leveraging multi-modal communication mechanisms.

Needless to say, the impact of flexible automation extends far beyond academia. Whether it is optimizing production lines, enhancing safety, or enabling personalized manufacturing, our contributions matter. I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with industrial partners, deploying our work to solve real-world challenges. Examples include assisting workers in toxic surface finishing jobs, and streamlining the entire supply chain into a shipping container to enhance productivity.

My journey toward deepening the flexibility and autonomy of robotic systems continues. I envision a future where robots challenge their underlying assumptions, continuously improve during interactions with their environments, and effectively communicate their needs to humans. This adaptability will allow them to interact with the world much like humans do—serving, assisting, and collaborating across work, home, and leisure.

In closing, I dedicate this award to my family, mentors, collaborators and students. Our work is a collective effort, and I’m grateful for all the guidance and support received along the way. Let’s continue to innovate, collaborate, and build a more automated, yet compassionate world. Thank you!