INFORMS STUDENT CHAPTER Seminar

Time: 10:00am-11:00am Nov 10

Zoom information: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/4550989643

Speaker: Dr. Yongjing Wang, University of Birmingham

Abstract: Disassembly is a key step in remanufacturing and recycling, both of which are critical components in a circular economy. Disassembly is also a common operation in the repair and maintenance of machines and public infrastructure facilities (e.g. transport and energy). In many ways, disassembly is challenging to robotise due to variability in the condition of the returned products and the required dexterity in robotic manipulations. Compared to the assembly of new products, which is deterministic because the components to be assembled are of known geometries, dimensions and states, disassembly is more stochastic as it has to contend with used products of uncertain shapes, sizes and conditions. This talk introduces recent research developments in the area of robotic disassembly and remanufacturing automation, and highlight key opportunities and technical gaps in the use of robots to support sustainable manufacturing.

Bio: Dr. Yongjing Wang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Birmingham.

Wang is leading a research team focusing on robotics and automation technologies for industrial sustainability. Wang is the Principal Investigator of the EPSRC New Investigator Award on self-learning manufacturing robotics and several high-TRL industrial projects. Wang is also a Co-investigator of the £6.7m Smart Factory Hub (SmartFub). Wang has over 40 publications in the area of robotics for sustainable manufacturing. His book ‘Optimisation of Robotic Disassembly for Remanufacturing which was the first book addressing optimisation problems in disassembly sequence planning. He is also a funding reviewer for research councils at the UK and Switzerland, and a reviewer for over 20 world leading journals.

Wang’s research work has been supported by world-leading companies including but not limited to Airbus, Caterpillar, Toshiba, Jaguar Land Rover, KUKA and Dyson. Wang is a invited member of a Focus Group of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialised agency of the United Nations, and an invited member of a standard committee with the British Standards Institution (BSI), UK, an expert respondent of the United Nations Internet Governance Forum 2023, and one of the six nationally elected members of the UK Robotics and Autonomous Systems Network Early Career Forum. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Chartered Engineer with the Institution of Engineering and Technology.