Intervention-Autonomous Underwater Robots: Research Challenges, Opportunities, and Case Studies

Dikai Liu

University of Technology Sydney

Abstract:  Current applications of robotics is distinguished from more traditional automation by the focus on robots that operate autonomously in unstructured and dynamic environments, or collaboratively with humans. A number of autonomous robotic systems have been deployed in highly challenging application areas including steel bridge maintenance, and underwater structure cleaning and inspection. This talk will discuss the research and methodologies needed for intervention-autonomous underwater robots to physically interact with underwater structures and conduct cleaning and inspection operations. Topics include research challenges; enabling methodologies, including sensing, localisation, planning and control; robot system design; field trials; and lessons learnt.

Biography:  Dikai Liu is a distinguished professor at the Robotics Institute of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and an IEEE RAS Distinguished Lecturer. He is Director of the ARC Research Hub for Human-Robot Teaming for Sustainable and Resilient Construction (2024-2029). He served as Co-Director of the UTS Centre for Autonomous Systems (2013-2019) and played the key role in establishing the UTS Robotics Institute in 2019. His research interest lies in robotics, with a focus on field robotics, human-robot collaboration, and robot systems. In addition to conducting fundamental robotics research, he has been instrumental in transforming robotics research into industry applications. Examples include autonomous robots for bridge maintenance, bio-inspired climbing robots for inspection of confined space, intelligent robotic co-worker for human-robot collaborative abrasive blasting, smart hoist for patient transfer, and autonomous underwater robots for underwater structure maintenance. Since 2006, his research has received over 20 Best Paper and Research/Engineering Excellence awards, including the 2024 IEEE IROS Harashima Award, the 2019 UTS Medal for Research Impact, the 2019 ASME DED Leonardo da Vinci Award, the 2019 BHERT Award for Outstanding Collaboration in Research & Development, and the 2016 Australian Engineering Excellence Awards (AEEA). His research has been featured by reputable newspapers and TV news channels, such as the BBC, ABC, SBS, TVBS (Taiwan), Sydney Morning Herald, 7News, AFR, and The Robot Report (USA).

Several well-known overseas scholars will be invited to make keynote speeches.

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