People
Dr Daniel Zhou Hao
Lecturer in AI and Robotics
School/Department: Computing and Mathematical Sciences, School of
Email: d.hao@leicester.ac.uk
Address: Ken Edwards Building (Mon - Tue, Thu - Fri) Space Park Leicester (Wed)
Web:
Lab Website: www.danilab.org DriverLeics Team Website: https://driverleics.github.io/
Profile
Dr. Hao is a lecturer (assistant professor) in AI and Robotics at CMS. He is the founder of the Dynamics and Neural Intelligence (DANi) Lab and the Team Lead of the DriverLeics research-inspired education group in AI-powered robotics and autonomous systems.
Dr. Hao is the Leicester's PI in the UK Space Agency (UKSA) funded PLATOR project. He is also the Robotics Lead for the ESA/NASA Mars Sample Return DWI Project (ESA Prog. ref: E/019A-02R - MSR SRP E3P2), affiliated with Space Park Leicester. Dr. Hao is the Co-I of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Digital Transformation of Metals Industry (2024), working with School of Engineering.
Dr. Hao's expertise encompasses Spacecraft AOCS/GNC, Robotics, and AI. His current research interests include autonomous GNC supporting in-orbit servicing and manufacturing, Large language and vision models driven robotics, Reinforcement Learning for Legged Space Robots, AI-driven Robotic Manipulation, and AI for Space Sciences.
Before joining Leicester, Dr. Hao worked at the Centre for Vision, Speech, and Signal Processing (CVSSP)- funded by the University of Surrey, and at the Surrey Space Centre- funded by EPSRC. He was awarded a PhD in Aerospace Engineering, specialising in Very Low Earth Orbits Thermospherical Spacecraft Attitude Control, from the University of Manchester in 2018. Additionally, he holds double-MSc in both Space Sciences and Astronautical Engineering.
Dr. Hao is actively seeking talented, self-motivated research students to join the team. Happy to discuss funding options.
Research
Research Funding
Co-I, Centre for Doctoral Training in Digital Transformation of Metals Industry (£18m), EPSRC, 03.2024
PI(Leicester), UK Space Agency's PLATOR Project (~£250k)UK Space Agency, UKSA NSTP, 04.2023
Robotics Lead, ESA/NASA Mars Sample Return DWI Project (~£5m), European Space Agency ITT, 11.2023
Industry Funding
PI, Next Generation Ground Robotic Testbed for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations, Consultancy - Lúnasaspace, 07.2024
Research Interests
Future Space Missions Powered by AI and Robotics
Embodied Intelligence in Robotics
Data Sciences for Future Digital Manufacturing
Journal Editorial
I am currently a guest editor for Artificial Intelligence for IoT Systems: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/electronics/special_issues/R1265A6U3R
Publications
Publications
| Ciccarelli, E., Baresi, N., Bernardini N., Saridede, E., Tisaev, M., Hao D.H., Fabris, A.L., and Underwood, C. (2024) 'Trajectory Design and Navigation Analysis of a PLAsma TOrch Rocket Propelled Space Tug', International Symposium on Space Flight Dynamics (ISSFD), ESOC Darmstadt |
| Montanaro, U., Martini, S., Hao, Z., Gao, Y., Sorniotti, A. (2023) ‘Multi-input enhanced model reference adaptive control strategies and their application to space robotic manipulators’, International Journal of Robust and Nonlinear Control, doi:10.1002/rnc.6639 |
| Hao, Z., Shyam, A, Rathinam, A., and Gao, Y. (2021) ‘Intelligent spacecraft GNC architecture with the state-of-the-art AI components for on-orbit manipulation’, Frontier in Robotics and AI. doi: 10.3389/frobt.2021.639327 |
| Mavrakis, N., Hao, Z., and Gao, Y. (2021) ‘On-Orbit Robotic Grasping of a Spent Rocket Stage: Grasp Stability Analysis and Experimental Results’, Frontier in Robotics and AI. doi: 10.3389/frobt.2021.652681 |
| Shyam, A., Hao Z., Montanaro U., Dixit S., Rathinam A, Gao, Y., Neumann, G., and Fallah S. (2021) ‘Autonomous Robots for Space: Trajectory Learning and Adaptation Using Imitation’, Frontier in Robotics and AI. doi:10.3389/frobt.2021.638849 |
| Hao, Z., Rathinam, A., Shyam, A., and Gao, Y. (2020) ‘Intelligent GNC Architectures and Designs for Orbital Robotic Applications’, Poster for the Opportunities and Challenges in Space Robotics Workshop, IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation - ICRA 2020, Online. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.15175.73124 |
| Shyam, A., Rathinam, A., Hao, Z. (2020) ‘Trajectory Tracking and Control of Multiple Robot Arms on a Free-Floating Spacecraft for Debris Removal’, in 3rd UKRAS20 Conference & 1st virtual UK-RAS Conference, 17th April 2020, Online. |
| Hao, Z., Mavrakis, N., Proenca, P., Gillham Darnley, R., Fallah, S., Sweeting, M. and Gao, Y. (2019) ‘Ground-Based HighDOF AI And Robotics Demonstrator For In-Orbit Space Optical Telescope Assembly’, in 70th International Astronautical Congress, 2019-10-21-2019-10-25, Washington, D.C., United States. |
| Hao, Z. and Roberts, P. C. E. (2017) ‘Active Aerodynamic Pitch Control for Earth Observation Missions in Very Low Earth Orbits’, in 31st International Symposium on Space Technology and Science (ISTS). Matsuyama, Japan. |
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Virgili-Llop, J., Roberts, P. C. E. and Hao, Z. (2017) ‘Using the attitude response of aerostable spacecraft to measure thermospheric wind’, CEAS Space Journal. doi: 10.1007/s12567-017-0153-9
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| Hao, Z. and Roberts, P. C. E. (2016) ‘Using Aerodynamic Torques To Aid Detumbling Into An Aerostable State’, in 67th International Astronautical Congress. Guadalajara, Mexico, p. IAC-16,C1,8,4,x35312. |
| Hao, Z., Xu, Q., Roberts, P. C. E., Hobbs, S., and Kingston, J. (2015) ‘System Design for CubeSat as A Secondary Payload For Deep-Space Mission – A Case Study For ESA Asteroid Impact Mission’, in 66th International Astronautical Congress, Jerusalem, Israel, IAC-15,B4,8,11,x31061. |
| Virgili-Llop, J., Roberts, P. C. E. and Hao, Z. (2014) ‘Aerodynamic Attitude and Orbit Control Capabilities of The ∆Dsat CubeSat’, in 37th Advances in the Astronautical Sciences. Breckenridge, Colorado. |
| Virgili-Llop, J., Roberts, P. C. E., Hao, Z., Tomas, L. R. and Beauplet, V. (2014) ‘Very Low Earth Orbit mission concepts for Earth Observation: Benefits and challenges’, in 12th Reinventing Space Conference. London, UK |
Book Chapter
| Rathinam, A., Hao, Z., and Gao, Y. (2020) for Chapter ‘Autonomous Spacecraft Navigation for Orbital Robotic Servicing Applications’ for ‘Space Robotics and Autonomous Systems: Technologies, Advances and Applications’, PBCE130, Publisher: the IET |
Supervision
PhD Supervision
Roin (Lijia) Deng (2023 - Now) CNN for Objects Counting
J. Atmounia (2024 - Now) - Deep Reinforcement Learning (RL) for Space Legged Robots
Hanxin Zhang (2024 - Now) - Embodied Intelligence
Mingshuo Xu (Co-Supervision, 2023 - Now) - Insect Vision Inspired Rapid Target Identification and Tracking
Tom Buteux (Co-Supervision, 2024 - Now) - A Novel Spacecraft Attitude Determination Approach
Hengde Zhu (2024 - Now) - Effective Computing
ESA/NASA DWI Project Research Intern
Abdulqader A.M. Dhafer (2024.03 - 2024.08)
MSc Supervision
Dr. Hao has supervised many MSc in AI related topics (Open to student-proposed projects. Please contact Dr. Hao for more information)
UG Supervision
Dr. Hao has supervised many undergraduate projects in AI and Robotics. Examples of these projects include:
- High-Degree-of-Freedom (DoF) Kendo Practice Robot
- Nvidia Jetson Controlled Autonomous Driving Vehicle
- Reinforcement Learning for a 2-Legged Humanoid Walking
Teaching
DriverLeics (https://driverleics.github.io/)
Dr. Hao is the team lead of the Research-Inspired Education group for autonomous systems and AI at CMS.
Computing Sciences Modules
[CO2103] - Semester 1 Software Architecture and System Development (Java, Spring Boot, Modern Software Technologies)
[CO7099] Foundations of Cybersecurity (Encryption, Firewall, Security Protocols, Network Technology)
[CO3201/3202] Computer Science Project
Dr. Hao supervises a range of undergraduate research projects focusing on Artificial Intelligence for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence for Space Applications.
[CO7201] Master's Individual Project
Dr. Hao supervises a range of undergraduate research projects focusing on General Artificial Intelligence Applications and Software Engineering.
Guest Lecture
Dr. Hao is also a guest lecturer in Spacecraft Engineering at the University of Bath (2022).
Press and media
Articles:
How AI can help you make a computer game without knowing anything about coding The Conversation
AI could be the breakthrough that allows humanoid robots to jump from science fiction to reality The Conversation
Events:
UK in Space Festival 2024 at National Space Centre
UK Space Agency Funded PLATOR Project
Breakfast BBC East Midlands Today (Jun 29, 2023)
University of Leicester Podcast - AI for Space Applications
Awards
Citizen Recognition Scheme Award 05.2024
Nomination for Superstar Award for Best Lecturer 06.2024
University of Manchester PhD Scholarship 2016 - 2018
Qualifications
Engineering Programme in Robotics (4 ECTS Credits), Tohoku University, Japan 2015
MSc in Astronautical and Space Engineering (Erasums SpaceMaster), Cranfield University, UK 2014
MSc in Space Technology, Luleå University of Technology (Space Campus), Sweden and The Julius Maximilians University of Würzburg, Germany 2013
BSc in Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Australia 2012