Embodied Intelligent UAS and LLM-Assisted DT Technologies towards Very Low-Altitude Economy

Abstract

Very low-altitude environments refer to confined spaces where GPS signals are denied, including tunnels, pipelines, sewers, complex indoor settings, and hazardous areas such as large boilers and oil tanks, which often present dangerous and toxic conditions. Conducting inspection and maintenance in these environments poses significant risks to human operators.

In this talk, we will present solutions that utilise embodied intelligent unmanned systems in conjunction with LLM-Assisted digital twin technologies for applications in these settings. By integrating these advanced technologies, we will enable real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and synergistic decision-making between humans and machines. Our systems aim to redefine smart infrastructure and establish a foundation for Very Low-Altitude Economy (VLAE) ecosystems. Several real industrial applications will be highlighted, showcasing the effectiveness of the comprehensive system we have developed.

Speaker

Prof. Ben M. Chen is a Professor and Chairman of the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). Prior to joining CUHK in 2018, he was a Provost’s Chair Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the National University of Singapore, where he worked for 25 years. He also served as an Assistant Professor at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA, from 1992 to 1993 and worked as a Software Engineer at South China Computer Corporation from 1983 to 1986. His current research focuses on unmanned systems and their applications.

Professor Chen is an IEEE Fellow, CAA Fellow, HKIE Fellow and a Fellow of the Academy of Engineering, Singapore. He has authored or co-authored hundreds of research articles and ten research monographs in control engineering, unmanned systems, and financial market modelling. He has served on the editorial boards of several international journals, including Automatica and IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control. Currently, he is an Editor-in-Chief of Unmanned Systems and an Editor-in-Chief of Engineering Artificial Intelligence.