TIME：14:00, July. 3, 2026
VENUE：Room 319, Science & Education Building South Wing, NIMTE
Abstract:
In the age of smart systems and ubiquitous data, mechatronics and robotics are entering a new era —one driven by the fusion of physical fields and intelligent perception. This plenary talk explores the evolving trajectory from conventional automation to physics-based machine intelligence, motivated by emerging societal needs and the demand for autonomous, real-time decision-making in complex environments.
The presentation begins by examining paradigm shifts in technology and manufacturing that challenge traditional design and modeling approaches. Field-based automation is introduced as a promising paradigm, where rich physical phenomena — such as electromagnetic, thermal, or strain fields — are harnessed not just for actuation, but for perception, control, and decision-making. A central case study focuses on aircraft compressor disk manufacturing, where eddy-current(EC) sensing is utilized as a medium for intelligent machine perception. This example illustrates the practical challenges in modern manufacturing, including the need for simultaneous multi-parameter measurement, defect detection, and in-situ field reconstruction of displacement and strain. Through real-time reconstruction of physical fields and model-informed control, the EC-based system enables precise machining decisions and adaptive response — highlighting a scalable framework for high-value, defect-sensitive manufacturing. Beyond eddy currents, the talk will explore other physical feldsmagnetic, optical, thermal, etc.) as alternative or complementary media for perception, emphasizing their role in enhancing machine intelligence and autonomy in robotics, biomedical systems, and cyber-physical infrastructures.
This talk concludes by outlining a vision where held-informed modeling and data-driven reconstruction coalesce into a unified platform, bridging model-based control and machine perception. The result is a new generation of intelligent systems that perceive and act through the very physics that govern their environment — transforming not only how machines operate, but how they understand the world.
Speaker Biography:
Dr. Kok-Meng Lee (kokmeng.lee@me.gatech.edu) received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1982 and 1985, respectively. He joined the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1985 and dedicated his career to research and education in mechanical engineering until his retirement on January 1, 2025.
As a professor of mechanical engineering, Dr. Lee's research interests encompassed system dynamics and control, machine vision, robotics, mechatronics, and automation, with applications in manufacturing, food processing, and healthcare.
Dr. Lee was the founding Editor-in-Chief (ElC) of the Springer International Journal of Intelligent Robotics and Applications (IJIRA). Prior to this, he served as EIC for the IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics (2008-2013). He co-founded the IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics (AIM) in 1997 and served as General Chair for AIM 1999 in Atlanta. USA. Additionally, he held editorial and leadership roles in the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society, including Associate Editor for Robotics and Automation Magazine (1994-1996), Transactions on Robotics and Automation (1994-1998), and Automation Science and Engineering (2003-2005). He was also a member of the Executive Committee for ASME's Dynamic Systems and Control Division (2013-2017), serving as Chair in 2016. Dr. Lee co-authored four books on modeling and field-based approaches for designing and controlling electromagnetic actuators and flexonic systems. He also held multiple patents related to machine vision systems. ball-joint-like spherical motors, and automated systems for transferring live objects. A Life Fellow of both ASME and IEEE, Dr. Lee received numerous accolades for his contributions to research and engineering, including the Presidential Young Investigator (PYI) Award, Sigma Xi Junior Faculty Award. International Hall of Fame New Technology Award, Woodruff Faculty Fellow, and the Michael J. Rabins Leadership Award.
