Cunjia Liu

Professor Cunjia Liu serves as Professor of Robotics and Autonomous Systems within the Department of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering at Loughborough University. His research focuses on control engineering applications for unmanned vehicles, addressing global challenges in food security and emergency response through innovative drone technologies.

His academic foundation includes a BEng and MEng from Beihang University, followed by doctoral research in autonomous aerial vehicles at Loughborough University beginning in 2008.

Liu's work bridges theoretical control systems with real-world applications: developing crop-spraying drones for wheat yellow rust management via the SCENE-CAD project, and creating UAV-based HAZMAT detection systems for hazardous environments. His research integrates satellite data, environmental modeling, and autonomous navigation to create sustainable agricultural solutions and enhance disaster response capabilities while minimizing ecological impact.

Funded by the 2020 Newton Fund, his SCENE-CAD project delivers cloud-based crop disease forecasting and intelligent drone flight planning for targeted pesticide application. Concurrently, his HAZMAT research enables UAVs to map hazardous material dispersion in hostile scenarios, reducing human exposure during emergencies.

Professor Liu contributes through Loughborough's Intelligent Mobility and Autonomous Systems team and Centre for Autonomous Systems, advancing autonomous vehicle applications across agriculture, CBRN response, and intelligent transportation systems.