J. Andrew Zhang

Papers

Total Citations

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About

J. Andrew Zhang is a robotics engineer whose work focuses on deploying autonomous systems for hazardous environments, with particular emphasis on nondestructive evaluation, nuclear decommissioning, and legged locomotion. His most impactful contribution is the development of a specialized robot for nondestructive assay of holdup deposits in gaseous diffusion piping—a critical challenge in deactivating former uranium enrichment facilities. This robot eliminates the need for dangerous manual measurements of contaminated pipe sections, replacing them with automated, remote sensing operations. The work, published in 2019 with 4 citations, addresses a pressing safety and efficiency need in environmental remediation. Zhang has also advanced practical manipulation with a retro-fitting robotic smart lock manipulator (2022, 3 citations) and contributed to quadruped robot stability through static gait planning on uneven terrain (2021, 2 citations). His research bridges the gap between theoretical robotics and real-world deployment in high-consequence settings, demonstrating how robotic systems can replace human exposure to radiological and physical hazards. Zhang’s work is particularly notable for its direct application to legacy nuclear facility cleanup, a domain where robotic innovation directly impacts worker safety and project timelines.