Xiaoqi Chen

Xiaoqi Chen is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering & Product Design Engineering at Swinburne University of Technology, School of Engineering. He previously served as Deputy Director of the Manufacturing Futures Research Institute and Professor in the same department. Prior to Swinburne, he was Professor and Director of Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Canterbury (2006–2019), and held senior research roles in Singapore and the UK.

Education:

• B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering, South China University of Technology
• M.Sc. in Materials Technology, Brunel University, UK
• PhD in Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, UK

Prof. Chen’s research spans robotics, smart manufacturing, advanced materials processing, additive manufacturing, and autonomous systems. He is a strong advocate for translating research into commercial applications, evidenced by spin-offs like Invert Robotics Ltd. His work integrates intelligent systems with industrial processes to improve efficiency and sustainability. He is deeply involved in the ARC Training Centre for Collaborative Robotics in Advanced Manufacturing, co-leading the Biomimic Cobots program.

His recent publications highlight advancements in robotic grinding, fault diagnosis using deep learning, composite materials, and additive manufacturing of superalloys. These works reflect a trend toward intelligent, data-driven, and sustainable manufacturing systems with applications in aerospace, energy, and healthcare.

Scientific Awards and Recognitions:

• Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand
• Fellow of Engineering New Zealand (F.EngNZ)
• Fellow of Society of Manufacturing Engineers (F.SME)
• Fellow of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (F.ASME)
• New Zealand Hi-Tech Start-Up Excellence Award (2012)
• New Zealand Forest Owners Association Award (2015)
• Singapore National Technology Award
• Mechanical Engineering Research Award, University of Canterbury

Advising and Grants:
Prof. Chen supervises multiple PhD students in areas such as compliant mechanisms, soft robotics, and intelligent fault diagnosis. He is a Chief Investigator on industry-linked grants, including a project on rapidly-deployable soft robotic assistive devices funded by KNW DESIGN PTY LTD. His editorial roles include serving as Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics and IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering.

Labs and Teams:
He leads research teams in robotics and advanced manufacturing at Swinburne and is a key figure in the ARC Training Centre for Collaborative Robotics in Advanced Manufacturing. His work bridges academia and industry, focusing on real-world deployment of robotic and intelligent systems.