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Yang Gao

Professor Yang Gao FIET FRAeS

Professor of Robotics in the Department of Engineering

  • Head of Centre for Robotics Research
  • Editor-in-Chief of Wiley's Journal of Field Robotics
  • United Nations Space4Women Mentor

Research interests

  • Engineering

Pronouns

She/Her

Biography

Professor Yang Gao is a Professor of Robotics and heads the Centre for Robotics Research within the Department of Engineering at King's College London. She brings over 20 years of research experience in developing space robotics and autonomous systems, in which she has been the Principal Investigator of nationally and internationally teamed projects funded by European Space Agency (ESA), UK Space Agency, UK Research Innovation, Royal Academy of Engineering, European Commission, as well as industries. Yang is also actively involved in design and development of real-world space missions such as ESA ExoMars, Proba3 and VMMO (lunar ice mapper), UK's CLEAR, MoonLITE and Moonraker, and CNSA Chang'E3. Yang's work has been applied to several non-space sectors including nuclear, utility and agriculture through technology transfer and spin offs.

Yang is an elected Fellow of Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) and Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS). She was named by the Times Higher Education in 2008 one of ten UK’s young leading academics making a significant contribution to their disciplines, and she also received the Mulan Award in 2019 for her contributions to science, technology and engineering. Within her research field, Yang serves the international R&D community through various leadership roles, such as being the Editor-in-Chief of Wiley’s Journal of Field Robotics, the Co-Chair of IEEE Robotics & Automation Society’s Technical Committee on Space Robotics, and the Mentor of the United Nations’ Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) Space4Women program, etc.

Prior to joining King's in August 2023, Yang spent nearly 19 years at the University of Surrey where she founded and led the multi-award winning STAR LAB (Space Technology for Autonomous & Robotic systems Laboratory). Before that, she was an awardee of the prestigious Singapore Millennium Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship and worked on intelligent and autonomous vehicles. She gained the B.Eng. (First Class Honours) degree and Ph.D. degree from the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore in 2000 and 2003 respectively.

 

Research interests

  • Robotic sensing & perception
  • Visual guidance, navigation and control
  • Biomimetic mechanisms
  • Industrial applications for the extreme environments, such as space, nuclear, utility sectors

More Information

    Research

    main-article-metamorphic-hand new 7 (final new)
    Centre for Robotics Research

    The group develops solutions to critical challenges faced in society where robot-centric approaches can improve outcomes.

    kickstarter-robot-image
    Design & Mechatronics

    Fusing mechanical, electrical and control engineering.

    networking
    Data-Centric Engineering

    Applying machine learning to engineering challenges

    1908x558_microphone
    Signals & Control

    Applying signal processing and control to generate adaptive intelligent systems.

    News

    COMMENT: Nasa's planned mission to retrieve rocks from Mars is in trouble – but it's a vital step to sending humans to the red planet

    Nasa recently asked the scientific community to help come up with innovative ideas for ways to carry out its Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission.

    Mars Sample Return - The Conversation (1)

    COMMENT: NASA Spacesuits need a major upgrade for the next phase of exploration

    Humans have long dreamed of setting foot on the Moon and other planetary bodies such as Mars. Since the 1960s, space travellers have donned suits designed to...

    Astronaut

    Events

    08Mar

    AI in Space Innovation

    An event exploring artificial intelligence and its role in Space Innovation.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    Features

    Meet our new academic staff from the Department of Engineering

    We chatted to two academics from the Department of Engineering about their research, their inspirations, and their life outside of King's. 

    engineering-hero2

      Research

      main-article-metamorphic-hand new 7 (final new)
      Centre for Robotics Research

      The group develops solutions to critical challenges faced in society where robot-centric approaches can improve outcomes.

      kickstarter-robot-image
      Design & Mechatronics

      Fusing mechanical, electrical and control engineering.

      networking
      Data-Centric Engineering

      Applying machine learning to engineering challenges

      1908x558_microphone
      Signals & Control

      Applying signal processing and control to generate adaptive intelligent systems.

      News

      COMMENT: Nasa's planned mission to retrieve rocks from Mars is in trouble – but it's a vital step to sending humans to the red planet

      Nasa recently asked the scientific community to help come up with innovative ideas for ways to carry out its Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission.

      Mars Sample Return - The Conversation (1)

      COMMENT: NASA Spacesuits need a major upgrade for the next phase of exploration

      Humans have long dreamed of setting foot on the Moon and other planetary bodies such as Mars. Since the 1960s, space travellers have donned suits designed to...

      Astronaut

      Events

      08Mar

      AI in Space Innovation

      An event exploring artificial intelligence and its role in Space Innovation.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      Features

      Meet our new academic staff from the Department of Engineering

      We chatted to two academics from the Department of Engineering about their research, their inspirations, and their life outside of King's. 

      engineering-hero2