Hello, my name is Jeong-woo Han, and I am a Research Associate at the University of Waterloo. My primary research interest lies in motion planning and control of robotics systems, with extension to various facets such as design, kinematics, dynamics, and machine learning.
I received my Ph.D. from the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo under the supervision of Prof. Soo Jeon and Prof. HJ Kwon. My doctoral research centered on ensuring the safe navigation of mobile robots, primarily focusing on path and motion planning strategies tailored for semi-structured environments, such as warehouses bustling with dynamic obstacles in proximity to static ones. Additionally, I explored the realm of 7-DOF manipulators involving inverse kinematics analysis, motion planning, and control. These components coalesced into a comprehensive mobile manipulating robot system, complemented by a high-level task controller aimed at executing object pick-and-place tasks within such complex environments.
Before joining the University of Waterloo, I earned my bachelor's and master's degrees in Mechanical Engineering at Yonsei University. Subsequently, I honed my expertise during a five-year work at a robotics research department of Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea. My master's research covered a comprehensive development of a lower-limb exoskeleton, including kinematics design and analysis, a force-sensor-based wearable foot, and a data acquisition system. At Hyundai, my contributions spanned hardware design including dynamics analysis during the initial two years, followed by enhancements in control software for medical robotics systems during the subsequent three years. The development underwent two complete cycles, resulting in deployments in general hospitals with the attainment of a medical certification. This end-to-end development experience, from conceptualization to deployment to customers, became invaluable engineering assets to me.
Post my Ph.D. graduation, I engaged in a project with Prof. Kwon on developing manufacturing AI robotics systems. The project aims to leverage AI algorithms to augment robotics systems, enhancing productivity and addressing challenges faced by manufacturing companies through strategic partnerships.
