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About

Liang-Boon Wee is a pioneering researcher in space robotics, whose work has fundamentally advanced the understanding and control of free-flying robot manipulators in the challenging environment of space. His key research areas include the dynamics of contact between space robots, adaptive control for systems with uncertain inertial parameters, and trajectory planning for impact minimization. Wee’s major contributions include developing a general dynamical model for space-based manipulators with a moving base and synthesizing globally stable adaptive control laws that achieve precise trajectory tracking despite unknown mass properties. His most influential work, "On the dynamics of contact between space robots and configuration control for impact minimization" (103 citations), provides a foundational framework for modeling contact dynamics and minimizing impulse at impact, critical for safe satellite servicing and debris removal. Additionally, his adaptive control method for 15-degree-of-freedom systems (68 citations) remains a landmark in handling the noninvertible dynamics unique to free-flying robots. Through these achievements, Wee has established himself as a key figure in the development of autonomous, robust robotic systems for space exploration and operations.