Yantao Shen

Contact Information

Research Interests

  • Bioinstrumentation and Bio-Sensors/Actuators: bioinstruments and medical
    devices, bio-inspired smart strcutures, biomimetic sensori-actuators,
    biomechanical measurement and analysis, biomedical sensing and imaging systems
  • Vision Guided Automation Systems: visual tracking, uncalibrated visual servo
    control systems, vision-based calibration, on-line vision-based inspection
    systems
  • Modeling and Control of Dynamic Systems: micro/nano/bio dynamic systems,
    modeling of dynamic systems, linear/nonlinear controls
  • Network-Enabled Human/Machine Interfaces for Micro/Bio/Nano Systems:
    tele-diagnostic medical systems, tele-microassembly, tele-micro/nano/bio-manipulation
  • Haptic/Tactile Systems: design and modeling of haptic interfaces, integration
    and design of tactile sensing systems

Research Experience

  • 01/08~ Assistant Professor, Dept. of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, Univiversity of Nevada, Reno, USA
    bioinstrumentation, smart sensors and actuators for bio-systems, sensorized micro/nano systems, bio-mechatronics/robotics
  • 02/02~12/07 Research Associate at Robotics and Automation Lab, Michigan State University, USA
    calibration and modeling of micro/nano/bio- manipulation systems, micro/nano manufacturing, microassembly, micro-force sensing and control systems, piezoelctric sensori-actuators, medical tele-diagnostic systems, biomechanical measurement and analysis, surface characterization systems, line-based robot auto-calibration system, on-line vision based gauging system
  • 08/98~02/02 Research Assistant at Robot Control Lab, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
    uncalibrated position-based and image-based visual servo control of robotic manipulators, modeling of a multifingered robot hand with unknown Jacobian matrices, high resoultion tactile sensor system
  • 04/97~07/98 Assistant Lecturer at Intelligent Sensor Lab, Beijing Institute of Technology, China
    optical tactile sensor, switch-array acceleration sensor, instrumental glove system

Courses Taught

  • EE291 Computer Methods for EE
  • EE424/624 Biomedical Instrumentation
  • EE472 Digital Control Engineering
  • EE491 Engineering Design/Analysis

Publications

(selected from 70 peer-reviewed publications)
  1. Yi, J; Chang, S; Shen, Y. (2009). Disturbance Observer-Based Hysteresis
    Compensation for PMN-PT Piezoelectric Actuators, IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, 14(4):456-464.
  2. Fadali, M; Shen, Y; Jafarzadeh, S; Yi, J. (2009), Electro-tactile Preference
    Identification Using Fuzzy Logic, Proceedings of the 31st Annual
    International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology
    Society (EMBC'09)    , pp. 1585-1588.
  3. Liu, Y; Xi, N; Shen, Y; Li, X; Zhang, G; Fuhlbrigge, T. (2009).
    Position-Sensitive Detector (PSD) Guided Servoing Method for Industrial
    Calibration, International Journal of Optomechatronics 3(2):116-132.
  4. Wejinya UC.; Shen, Y; Lai, WC; Xi, N. (2008). An Efficient Approach of Handlingand Depositing Micro/Nano Entities Using Sensorized Microfluidic
    End-effector System. Sensors and Actuators A: Phycical 147(1): 6-16.
  5. Shen, Y; Zhang, R; Cozen S; Xi, N; Wejinya, U; Hao, L. (2008). Quantitative
    Mechanical Evaluation and Analysis of Drosophila Embryos through the Stages of Embryogenesis, Birth Defects Research (Part C), Embryo Today
    84(3):204-214.
  6. Fang, Y; Tan, X; Shen, Y; Xi, N. (2008). A Scalable Model for Tri-layer
    Conjugated Polymer Actuator and Experimental Validation. Materials Science
    and Engineering C: Biomimetic and Supramolecular Systems 28(3)    : 421-428.
  7. Cozen, S; Zhang, R; Shen, Y; Xi, N; Yi, J. (2008). Quantitative Biomechanical Analysis of Drosophila Embryos Through the Stages of Embryogenesis Using
    a Sensorized Human/Robot Cooperative Interface, Proceedings of 2008 IEEE
    Conference on Biomedical Circuits and Systems (BioCAS08)    , pp. 69-72.
  8. Shen, Y; Wejinya, UC; Xi, N; Pomeroy, CA. (2007). Force Measurement and
    Mechanical Characterization of Living Drosophila Embryos for Medical Study.
    Journal of Engineering in Medicine, Proceedings of the Institution of
    Mechanical Engineers Part H 221(2)    : 99-112.
  9. Shen, Y; Methil-Sudhakaran, N; Pomeroy, CA; Xi, N; Mukherjee R; et al. (2007).Super-Media Interface for Internet Based Tele-diagnostics of Breast
    Pathology. The International Journal of Robotics Research 26(11-12): 1235-1250.
  10. Chen, Z; Shen, Y; Malinak, J; Xi, N; Tan, X. (2007). Integrated Sensing for
    Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite Actuators using PVDF Thin Films.
    Smart Materials and Structures 16(2): S262-S271.
  11. Shen, Y; Winder, E; Xi, N; Pomeroy, CA; Wejinya, UC. (2006). Closed-loop
    Optimal Control-Enabled Piezoelectric Micro-Force Sensors. IEEE/ASME
    Transactions on Mechatronics 11(4): 420-427.
  12. Shen, Y; Xi, N; Pomeroy, CA; Li, WJ. (2006). Networked Human/Robot Cooperative Environment for Tele-Assembly of MEMS Devices. Journal of
    Micromechatronics     3(3-4): 239-266.
  13. Shen, Y; Xi, N; Lai, WC; Li, WJ. (2004). A Novel PVDF Micro Force/Force Rate Sensor for Practical Application in Micromanipulation. Sensor Review, An
    International Journal     24(3): 274-283.
  14. Shen, Y; Xi, N; Lai, WC; Li, WJ. (2004). Internet-Based Remote Assembly of
    MEMS. Assembly Automation, An International Journal, 24(3):289-296.
  15. Shen, Y; Sun, D; Liu, YH; Li, K. (2003). Asymptotic Trajectory Tracking of
    Manipulators Using Uncalibrated Visual Feedback. IEEE/ASME Transactions on
    Mechatronics     8(1): 87-98.
  16. Shen, Y; Lo, WT; Liu, YH. (2003). Haptic Feedback in Teleoperation of
    Multi-fingered Robot Hands. International Journal on Intelligent Automation
    and Soft Computing     9(3): 143-154.

Book Chapter:

  1. Yantao Shen and Ning Xi, “System Approach to Characterize Living Drosophila Embryos for Biomedical Investigations”, the Chapter 4 in “Nanomedicine: A Systems Engineering Approach”, Pan Stanford Publishing Pte. Ltd., 2009.

Selected Patents

  1. Ning Xi, Yantao Shen, “Active Sensor for Micro-Force Measurement”, U.S. patent, (Issued Num. US 7,367,242 B2), Issued on May. 6, 2008.
  2. Ning Xi, Yantao Shen, and Fathi Salem, “Micro-Force Sensing System”, U.S.
    patent, (Issued Num. US 7,134,349 B2), Issued on Nov. 14, 2006.
  3. Kejie Li, Junkai Yi, and Yantao Shen et al., “A Fingerprint Tactile Sensor”,
    Practical new-model patent, (Issued Num. ZL 96 2 12056.1), China, 1997.

Honors and Synergistic Activities

  • 2009-2010 Outstanding Electrical Engineering Professor (UNR IEEE Chapter).
  • T. J. Tarn Best Paper Award in the 2009 IEEE International Conference on
    Robotics and Biomimetics (IEEE ROBIO 2009).
  • 2009 Lt. Governor’s Award: Presented to Best Energy-Related Business Plan
    -Graduate Team Winner (Faculty advisor)
  • Best Paper Award nomination of the 2007 16th IEEE International Symposium on
    Robot and Human Interactive Communication (IEEE RO-MAN 2007).
  • The 3rd-place Award of the 2006 International Student Experimental Hands-on
    Project Competition via Internet on Intelligent Mechatronics and Automation
    (Team advisor).
  • Finalist of Best Vision Paper Award in the 2001 IEEE International Conference
    on Robotics and Automation (IEEE ICRA2001).
  • Organization Committee and Program Committee of six International Conferences.
    Proposal/manuscript reviewers for NSF and over 20 journals, conferences,
    and publishers.

Current Research Support

  • NSHE-09-X27 Shen, Y. (PI)
    Nevada System of Higher Education
    A Refreshable and Portable E-Braille Assistive System for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
    This study is to develop a sensorized, portable, and scanning-style electrotactile based Braille display and its network (called E-Braille) for assisting the Blind and Visually Impaired (BVI).

  • OSP-11713JU (Phase I, renewable project) Shen, Y. (Co-PI)
    Nevada Transportation Department
    Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Fee Study (Phase I).
    This goal of this study is to develop on-vehicle sensors and communication units for collecting data which is used for investigation of new distance based road tax system.

Graduate Advisees and Postgraduate-Scholars Sponsored


Scott Cozen (Ph.D. program)
Josette Zaklit (Ph.D. program)