"AI-Driven Human-Robot Collaboration: From Smart Sensing to Large Language Models"

This event is sponsored by FAMU-FSU Engineering Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

Abstract: AI is revolutionizing human-robot collaboration and enabling robots to work alongside humans with adaptability and intelligence. This talk will trace the evolution of AI-driven collaborative systems, from smart sensing technologies to cutting-edge large language models that are reshaping human-robot interaction. Dr. Zhang will discuss how data-driven methods and sensing enable robots to perceive and respond to complex human behaviors in dynamic manufacturing environments, with applications in collaborative disassembly and decision-making. Dr. Zhang will also showcase how large language models are opening new frontiers in human-robot collaboration for natural communication, intuitive task specification, and context-aware assistance. Throughout the presentation, she will highlight how these AI technologies are applied in manufacturing engineering to create safer, more efficient, and more intuitive collaborative systems. The talk will conclude with her vision for the future of intelligent manufacturing systems and opportunities for multidisciplinary research in this rapidly evolving field.

Xinyao (Cynthia) Zhang

Assistant Professor

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

Speaker Bio: Xinyao (Cynthia) Zhang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Florida in 2025 and her M.S. from the University of Michigan in 2020. Her research focuses on developing intelligent systems for human-robot collaboration, leveraging artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data-driven methods to create adaptive and sustainable manufacturing systems. Her current work spans collaborative robotics, large language models, smart remanufacturing, and robot learning. Dr. Zhang serves as a reviewer for leading journals, including the Journal of Mechanical Design, IEEE Transactions on Human-Machine Systems, and IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters. She is an active member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and has been recognized with the First Year Faculty Teaching Academy award and Outstanding Merit at the University of Florida.