Papers
2
Total Citations
15
H-Index
2
About
Dr. Ziming Mao is a robotics researcher whose work bridges the critical domains of nuclear fusion maintenance and autonomous space operations. His primary research areas include robotic inspection systems for extreme environments and reinforcement learning-based control for space robotics. Dr. Mao’s most notable contribution is the development of an in-vessel inspection robotic system for the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), a landmark fusion energy project. This work, published in 2015 with 9 citations, addressed the formidable challenge of performing remote diagnostics inside a tokamak’s vacuum vessel under hazardous conditions. In a second highly cited study (6 citations), Dr. Mao pioneered an autonomous reinforcement learning control framework for space robots to capture non-cooperative targets—such as defunct satellites or debris. By integrating a dual-loop system combining reinforcement learning with traditional PD control, his approach enables robots to adapt in real-time to unpredictable target motions, a critical capability for future on-orbit servicing missions. Dr. Mao’s research thus advances both the safety of fusion energy facilities and the autonomy of next-generation space robots, making him a key figure in applied robotics for high-stakes environments.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2