Guest Speaker: Prof. LI Kan
School of Mechanical Science and Engineering
Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Kan LI is a Professor in School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. He received his bachelor degree from Tsinghua University, Tsien’s Excellence in Engineering Program. Dr Kan Li obtained his PhD in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from Northwestern University in 2019. He conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge in the Department of Engineering. His research focuses on the mechanical design of flexible electronics, stretchable electronics and electronic microfliers. He has published extensive papers in top journals, including Nature, PNAS, Advanced Materials, etc., as of 2025. He serves as the Associate Editor for the Mechanics of Materials journal, and an editorial member of Mechanics and Materials of Complex Systems.
Abstract
Miniaturized aerial devices harbor transformative potential for large-scale environmental monitoring, distributed sensing, and Internet of Things (IoT) networking. However, conventional micro-air vehicles (MAVs) remain constrained by their reliance on active drive modules—plagued by inherent limitations including poor miniaturization scalability, excessive energy consumption, and compromised concealment in real-world deployment. Addressing this critical bottleneck, this talk introduces a paradigm shift in microflier design: bio-inspired three-dimensional (3D) electronic microfliers that harness passive wind dispersal as a core flight mechanism, enabling unprecedented long-duration and long-range aerial operation without the need for active propulsion. This work bridges mechanics, flexible electronics, and aerodynamics, offering a scalable, low-power solution for next-generation distributed sensing systems.
