Prof. KANG, Wenbin
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Oxford, 2022
M.S., Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2016
B.S., Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2014
Research Interests
- Piezoelectrics and Ferroelectrics
- Energy Harvesting and Storage
- Small-scale Robotics
- Sensors and Actuators
- AI for Robotics
Professional Experience
- 2023-present, Visiting Fellow, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford (UK)
- 2023-2025, Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow, Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (DE)
- 2022-2023, Postdoctoral research Fellow, Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (DE)
Honors and Awards: - 2023, Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship
- 2022, Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad
- 2017, Jardine Scholarship (University of Oxford)
Honors and Awards
- 2023, Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship
- 2022, Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad
- 2017, Jardine Scholarship (University of Oxford)
Publications
- Chunxiang Wang, Wenbin Kang*, Mengmeng Sun, Hongchuan Zhang, Chong Hong, Sinan Ozgun Demir, Halim Ugurlu, Kun Hao, Zemin Liu, Tianlu Wang*, Metin Sitti*, Synthetic X-Ray Driven Tracking and Control of Miniature Medical Devices, Nature Machine Intelligence (2026):1-16.
- Yinyi Lai, Yuyang Li, Zhiyuan Xu, Wenbin Kang*, Zenghui Liu*, A Review on Path Planning for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles: From Models, Classical Methods and Learning-based Intelligence Perspectives, Journal of Field Robotics (2025).
- Zhiyuan Xu, Tianjun Luo, Yinyi Lai, Yuheng Liu, Wenbin Kang*, EdgeFormer-YOLO: A Lightweight Multi-Attention Framework for Real-Time Red-Fruit Detection in Complex Orchard Environments. Mathematics 13.23 (2025): 3790.
- Xianqiang Bao, Fan Wang, Jianhua Zhang, Mingtong Li, Shuaizhong Zhang, Ziyu Ren, Jiahe Liao, Yingbo Yan, Wenbin Kang, Rongjing Zhang, Zemin Liu, Tianlu Wang, Metin Sitti*, Real-time in-situ magnetization reprogramming for soft robotics, Nature (2025): 1-3.
- Wenbin Kang*, Guosheng Ji*, and John E. Huber*. Mechanical energy harvesting: From piezoelectric effect to ferroelectric/ferroelastic switching, Nano Energy (2024): 110489
- Mengmeng Sun, Bonan Sun, Myungjin Park, Shihao Yang, Yingdan Wu, Mingchao Zhang, Wenbin Kang, Jungwon Yoon, Li Zhang*, Metin Sitti*, Individual and collective manipulation of multifunctional bimodal droplets in three dimensions. Science advances, 10.29 (2024): eadp1439
- Wenbin Kang*, Cameron Cain, Fan Wang, John Huber, Energy harvesting using ferroelectric/ferroelastic switching: the effect of pre-poling. Smart Materials and Structures, 32.8 (2023): 085017
- Wenbin Kang*, Cameron Cain, Robert Paynter, John Huber*, A ferroelectric/ferroelastic energy harvester: Load impedance and frequency effects. Energy Conversion and Management 277 (2023): 116687
- Wenbin Kang*, John Huber*, Energy Harvesting Based on Compressive Stress-induced Ferroelectric/Ferroelastic Switching in Polycrystalline Ferroelectric Materials. Cell Reports Physical Science (2022):100707
- Wenbin Kang, Lulu Chang, John Huber*, Investigation of mechanical energy harvesting cycles using ferroelectric/ferroelastic switching. Nano Energy (2022):106862
- Guosheng Ji, Jingjian Xu, Jie Zhou*, Wenbin Kang*, The exploration of transmission loss property by using the circular-interface types of porous acoustic metamaterials. International Journal of Mechanical Sciences (2022): 107558
- Wenbin Kang, John Huber*, Prospects for energy harvesting using ferroelectric/ferroelastic switching. Smart Material and Structures 28.2 (2019)
- Wenbin Kang, Weidong Yang, Xi Wang*, Effect of thermal stress on the carbon nanotubes reinforced nano-switch. Micronanoelectronic Technology (2016): 53:637-644
- Wenbin Kang, Yude Li, Wu Chen, Xi Wang*, Congqi Fang, Interlaminar stresses in piezoelectric laminated composite shells under electric, thermal and mechanical loads. European Journal of Mechanics ‒A/Solid (2015): 54, 198-208
Patents
- Wenbin Kang, John Huber. Energy converter: U.S. Patent Application 18/283,103[P]. 2024-5-23.
Position Available
The Piezobot Research Group is inviting applications from exceptional individuals for PhDs, MPhils Research Assistant and Postdoctoral Fellows. Candidates with backgrounds in mechanics, materials, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and artificial intelligence are highly encouraged to apply. Visiting students and scholars are also welcome. Please feel free to contact me at wenbin.kang@cityu.edu.hk.
We particularly encourage applicants with research interests in the following areas:
1. Modelling, fabrication and Applications of Piezoelectrics and Ferroelectrics.
2. Robotics Design and Applications, emphasising medical applications, as well as smart sensors and actuators and machine learning methods for innovative applications.