Personal profile
Research Focus
- Dr. Van is a Senior Lecturer (a.k.a Associate Professor) in Robotics and Control Engineering. He has authored and co-authored for over 74 journal and 20 conference papers (first author >40 journal papers). Many papers are published in prestigious journals, including TFS (IF: 9.518), TMECH (IF: 5.673), TCYN (IF: 11.079), TII (IF: 9.112), T-SMC (IF: 9.309), MSSP (IF: 6.471), etc. His publication received >4400 citations and a h-index=35.
- Dr. Van is an executive member of UK Robotics and Autonomous System (UK RAS) and UK Automatic Control Engineering (UK ACE) EPSRC Networks.
- Dr. Van has been PIs/CoIs and participated in several major projects in Robotics and Control Engineering.
- Lead PI and Coordinator of EU HE HARMONICA (€6M)
- Lead PI-'Development of multiple underwater vehicles for ocean monitoring' in a collaboration with National Chiao Tung University (Taiwan), funded by NERC-MOST), 2022-2023.
- PI- 'Risk Aware Trustworthy Autonomous system' funded by NI DFE, 2022-2024.
- PI-'Artificial Intelligence-Enhanced Digital Twin for Multiple Collaborative Underwater Vehicles', funded by the Royal Society, 2022-2023
- PI-Development of Resilient and Collaborative Autonomous Marine Vehicles for Underwater Monitoring and Construction, 2022-2024.
- PI-Digital twins for underwater operations, funded by EPSRC/UK RAS Network, 2022-2023.
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PI, Offshore Wind Turbine Blade Monitoring Using Computer Vision and AI, funded by Innovate UK, 2024-2026.
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PI -'(ORCA) Optimally ReConfigurable AUV-enabled Surveying using High Data-Rate Underwater Wireless Communications for Defence," funded by Dstl/MOD, 2023-2024.
- PI- 'Bio-Inspired Robotics Design and Development (BioRobotics), funded by EPSRC/UKRAS network
- And other Robotics projects: Human-robot collaborative systems in industrial unstructured environments (funded by A*Star), Dexterous and Flexible Robotic Hand with Force Sensing and Adaptive Compliant Control (funded by ONR Global, USA). Manufacturing project: RLW Navigator: Rapid development of remote laser welding process in automotive assembly (funded by FP7). Control engineering project: Control of Launch and Recovery in Enhanced Sea-States (funded by EPSRC).
- Dr. Van received a Best paper award from BK21 (south Korea goverment), the prestigious IET premium award, and Best paper award from ICROS (conference).
- Dr. Van is an Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering, IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems, International journal of Control Autonomous System (IF:2.733) and Frontiers in Control Engineering, Scientic Report (IF:4.379) and Guest Editor of journal Sensor (IF:3.031).
- Dr. Van is a Guest Editor of the Special Issue: Finite-time/Fixed-time control for Mechaincal System of the Journal Actuators (IF: 1.957)
Research Focus and Interest
- Resilient Risk-Aware Autonomy for Unmanned autonomous vehicles: develop health monitoring, disturbance observer, intelligent control and resilient control.
- In-process quality control for manufacturing systems: develop inline quality manufacturing, in-process quality control for welding and machining systems.
- Human-robot interaction: Shared control and safe control, intelligent human-robot interaction.
- Multiple collaborative vehicles: for underwater robots, mobile robots
- Fault diagnosis and fault tolerant control for mechanical systems: robot, aerospace, etc.
Teaching: ELE4024: Robotics and Intelligent Systems
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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R1052ECS: Physics-Guided Dexterous Robots for Recovery of Rare Earth Magnets in End-of-Life Products (Robot4REM)
Van, M. (PI)
31/07/2025 → …
Project: Research
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R1082ECS: Offshore Wind Turbine Blade Monitoring Using Computer Vision and AI
Van, M. (PI)
01/08/2024 → …
Project: Research
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R3543ECS: (ORCA) Optimally ReConfigurable AUV-enabled Surveying using High Data-Rate Underwater Wireless Communications for Defence
Van, M. (PI)
19/12/2023 → …
Project: Research
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Research output
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An experimental investigation into the wave induced responses of a modular triangular floating photovoltaic array and the influence of module array position on individual module responses
Campbell, M., Karimirad, M., Van, M. & Pakrashi, V., 02 Feb 2026, (Accepted) Proceedings of the ASME 2026 45th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering OMAE 2026. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), 12 p. (Proceedings of the International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering - OMAE).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
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AST-PI-FxTSMC for robust AUV trajectory tracking in disturbed environments
Close, J., Van, M. & Wei, C., 22 Apr 2026, (Accepted) IFAC World Congress 2026: Proceedings. (IFAC-PapersOnLine).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
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A unified predefined-time hybrid control framework for swing-stance stability in legged locomotion
Xu , Y., Zhang, S., Zhang, D. & Van, M., Apr 2026, In: International Journal of Robust and Nonlinear Control. 36, 6, p. 3737-3751 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Finite-time adaptive interval type 2 fuzzy hierarchical nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode control for pendubot with uncertainties and actuators faults
Nguyen, V.-T., Giap, H.-B., Van, M. & Ngo, V.-T., 13 May 2026, (Accepted) In: Robotics and Autonomous Systems Journal.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Geometrical quality prediction of machining process by Exechon X-mini PKM through deformation modelling and error compensation
Bandara, S., Jin, Y., Van, M., Sun, D., Fu, R., Curley, P., Rutherford, G. & Higgins, C., Feb 2026, In: Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing. 97, 15 p., 103115.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus)13 Downloads (Pure)
Datasets
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Dataset for "Towards More Efficient EfficientDets and Low-Light Real-Time Marine Debris Detection."
Van, M. (Creator), Queen's University Belfast, Mar 2022
https://github.com/fedezocco/MoreEffEffDetsAndWPBB-TensorFlow/tree/main/WPBB_dataset
Dataset
Prizes
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Best Paper Award at ICROS conference
Van, M. (Recipient), 2014
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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File
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IET Science, Measurement and Technology Premium Awards in 2017
Van, M. (Recipient), 2017
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Bio-Robotics: From Nature to Reality Workshop
Van, M. (Participant)
17 Apr 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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Learning and Digital Twins-based Safety Critical Control for Collaborative Robots in Additive Manufacturing
Van, M. (Advisor)
03 Mar 2026Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited or keynote talk at national or international conference
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US counsellors visiting Robotics Lab
Van, M. (Recipient)
23 Feb 2026Activity: Other activity types › Hosting a delegation or group
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Learning and Digital Twins-based Safety Critical Control for Collaborative Robots
Van, M. (Advisor)
08 Dec 2025 → 10 Dec 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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UK RAS ECR Webinar: Pitching Event in BioInspired Robotics
Van, M. (Organiser)
11 Jul 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course