Guest Speaker: Prof. XU Qingsong
Department of Electromechanical Engineering
University of Macau
Prof. Qingsong Xu is a Professor at the Department of Electromechanical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, and serves as the Director of the Smart and Micro/Nano Systems Laboratory. His research interests focus on intelligent micro/nanosystems, precision robotics, and their biomedical applications. He has authored six books and published over 470 papers in renowned international journals and conferences. According to Google Scholar, his work has been cited more than 16,000 times, with an H-index of 70. Prof. Xu is currently an Editor-in-Chief of Advanced Mechatronics. He previously served as an Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Robotics (T-RO), IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering (T-ASE), and IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (RA-L), as well as a Technical Editor of IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics (T-MECH). Prof. Xu has been honored with more than a dozen best paper awards from international conferences and multiple Macao Science and Technology Awards conferred by the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), China. Since 2019, he has been consistently listed in the Top 2% of World's Top Scientists released by Stanford University. He is a Fellow of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a Fellow of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and a Fellow of the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (AAIA).
Abstract
Flexible microrobots, characterized by flexible structures or operational modes, are indispensable for achieving precision micromanipulation and effective force interaction tasks in complex biological environments. This presentation will report on our recent progress in the development of flexible microrobotic manipulation systems tailored for precision biomedical applications. Our research covers three key directions: compliant robotic micromanipulators designed for biological cell microsurgery, which enable non-invasive grasping and manipulation of cells and organoids with high dexterity and minimal damage; magnetic soft catheter robots for vascular intervention, which address the limitations of traditional catheters by achieving active navigation in narrow and tortuous vascular networks with enhanced steerability and low invasiveness; and untethered magnetic microrobots for precision therapy, which realize targeted drug delivery and localized treatment while minimizing off-target effects and systemic toxicity. These flexible microrobotic systems hold great promise for advancing precision medical treatment, thereby enhancing human health by enabling more accurate, minimally invasive, and efficient biomedical interventions. Additionally, the key challenging problems encountered in the development and clinical translation of these systems will be addressed. Finally, future research directions aimed at overcoming these challenges and promoting the practical application of flexible microrobotic manipulation systems will be discussed.
