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Welcome to Robotics & AI (RoboAI) Laboratory at UHCL

RoboAI Lab at University of Houston - Clear Lake (UHCL) researches on high-level robotic autonomy across various modalities (e.g. wheeled, legged and aerial robots), leveraging AI-driven perception and path planning in natuaral challenging environments, while enabling human-level dexterous manipulation in complex physical interactions.

The lab is directed by Dr. Zhichao Liu , Assistant Professor of Computer Engineering at UHCL.

Embodied Autonomy in Field Robotics

Develop learning-based autonomy across various modalities to survive challenging environments while enabling dexterous manipulation.

Embodied Autonomy in Robotic Farming and Environmental Science

Leverage AI-driven perception, planning, and control techniques on multimodal robotic platforms to transform smart agriculture and environmental monitoring applications.

Embodied Autonomy in Medical Robots

Automomous Medical Scanning Systems. Augmented Reality(AR) and Virtual Reality(VR). Robot Learning.

Publication

Preprint:

Journal:

[J6] Z. Liu, J. Zhou, C. Mucchiani and K. Karydis. “Vision-assisted Avocado Harvesting with Aerial Bimanual Manipulation", Advanced Robotics Research, 2025. PDF Video
[J5] Z. Liu, Z. Lu, A. Agha and K. Karydis. “Contact-Prioritized Planning of Impact-Resilient Aerial Robots with an Integrated Compliant Arm", IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, 2023. PDF
[J4] S. Lu, Z. Liu, K. Karydis, “Koopman Operators for Modeling and Control of Soft Robotics”, Current Robotics Reports, 2023. PDF
[J3] Z. Liu, C. Mucchiani, K. Ye, and K. Karydis, “Safely Catching Aerial Micro-Robots in Mid-air Using an Open-Source Aerial Robot with Soft Gripper”, Frontiers in Robotics and AI, 2022. PDF
[J2] Z. Lu, Z. Liu, M. Campbell and K. Karydis, “Online Search-based Collision-inclusive Motion Planning and Control for Impact-resilient Mobile Robots”, IEEE Transactions on Robotics, 2022. PDF
[J1] E. Kokkoni, Z. Liu, K. Karydis, “Development of a Soft Robotic Wearable Device to Assist Infant Reaching”, ASME Journal of Engineering and Science in Medical Diagnostics and Therapy, 2020. PDF

Conference:

[C10] Z. Liu, J. Zhou and K. Karydis, “Hierarchical Tri-manual Planning for Vision-assisted Fruit Harvesting with Quadrupedal Robots”,IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), 2025. PDF
[C9] C Simons, Z. Liu, B Marcus, AK Roy-Chowdhury, K Karydis, “Language-guided Robust Navigation for Mobile Robots in Dynamically-changing Environments”,IEEE International Conference on Automation Science and Engineering (CASE), 2025. PDF
[C8] Z. Liu and K. Karydis, “Dynamic Modeling and Analysis of Impact-resilient MAVs Undergoing High-speed and Large-angle Collisions with the Environment”, IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), 2023. PDF
[C7] C. Mucchiani, Z. Liu, I. Sahin, E. Kokkoni and K. Karydis, “Robust Generalized Proportional Integral Control for Trajectory Tracking of Soft Actuators toward Application to a Pediatric Wearable Robotic Assistive Device” , IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), 2023. PDF
[C6] C. Mucchiani, Z. Liu, I. Sahin, J. Dube, L. Vu, E. Kokkoni, K. Karydis, “Closed-loop Position Control of a Pediatric Soft Robotic Wearable Device for Upper Extremity Assistance”, IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN), 2022. PDF
[C5] Z. Liu and K. Karydis, “Toward Impact-resilient Quadrotor Design, Collision Characterization and Recovery Control to Sustain Flight after Collisions”, IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), 2021. PDF
[C4] Z. Liu and K. Karydis, “Position Control and Variable-Height Trajectory Tracking of a Soft Pneumatic Legged Robot”, IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), 2021. PDF
[C3] Z. Lu, Z. Liu , and K. Karydis, “Deformation Recovery Control and Post-impact Trajectory Replanning for Collision-resilient Mobile Robots”, IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), 2021. PDF
[C2] Z. Liu , Z. Lu and K. Karydis, “SoRX: A Soft Pneumatic Hexapedal Robot to Traverse Rough, Steep, and Unstable Terrain”, IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), 2020. PDF
[C1] Z. Lu, Z. Liu , G. Correa and K. Karydis, “Motion Planning for Collision-resilient Mobile Robots in Obstacle-cluttered Unknown Environments with Risk Reward Trade-offs”, IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), 2020. PDF

Patent:

[P2] K. Karydis Z. Lu and Z. Liu, “Collision resilient robot and aerial vehicle”, U.S. Patent US20230399124A1. PDF
[P1] K. Karydis and Z. Liu, “Soft pneumatic hexapedal robot, and uses thereof”, U.S. Patent US20220193891A1. PDF

People

Dr. Zhichao Liu
Director

Dr. Zhichao Liu

Experience:
- Assistant Professor of Computer Engineering at University of Houston - Clear Lake, 2025 - Present
- Postdoctoral Research Scientist III at University of Arkansas, 2025
- Postdoctoral Researcher at University of California Riverside, 2023 – 2024

Education:
- Ph.D. at University of California Riverside
- M.S.E. at University of Pennsylvania
- B.E. at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications

Email: LiuZ@UHCL.edu
Phone: (281) 283-3833
Office: Delta Building D-110

I am proud to work with talented students:
Graduate Student Researcher
 Coming Soon!
Graduate Student Researcher
 Coming Soon!
Undergraduate Student Researcher
 Coming Soon!
Undergraduate Student Researcher
 Coming Soon!

Teaching

AT UHCL:
  1. CENG 2312.2 Digital Circuit, 2025
  2. CENG 3151 Lab for Computer Architecture, 2025
  3. CENG 3116 Lab for Electronics, 2025
Prior to UHCL:
  1. Introduction to Robotics - Robot Kinematics and Dynamics @ University of Arkansas (Co-Instructor), 2025
  2. Advanced Robotics: Dynamics, Control, and Planning for Aerial Robots @ University of California Riverside (Co-Instructor), 2022
  3. Automatic Control @ University of California Riverside (TA), 2020
  4. Mathematical Methods For Electrical Engineers @ University of California Riverside (TA), 2019

Facilities

Coming Soon!

Join Us!

The RoboAI Lab offers research opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students on a rolling basis. If you're interested in getting involved or have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out to us.

Students at UHCL:
Please send a brief statement of interest, your resume, and an unofficial transcript of your degree to liuz@uhcl.edu