About

U-Xuan Tan is a multidisciplinary robotics researcher whose work spans medical robotics, human-robot interaction, autonomous systems, and engineering education. He is perhaps best known for his pioneering contributions to MRI-compatible robotic systems, developing pneumatically actuated robots capable of performing precise surgical procedures — including breast biopsy — within the challenging electromagnetic constraints of MRI environments. His foundational 2010 paper on MRI-compatible pneumatic actuation has garnered over 100 citations, while his master-slave surgical system for continuous MRI-guided biopsy further cemented his reputation in medical robotics. Tan has also made significant strides in physical human-robot interaction, developing variable admittance and adaptive control frameworks that ensure both stability and compliance when robots operate alongside human users in dynamic environments, work that has attracted considerable academic attention with over 85 citations. More recently, his research has expanded into multi-robot autonomous navigation, pioneering Ultra-WideBand-based relative localization and SLAM techniques that function reliably in GPS-denied and visually compromised environments. Beyond technical research, Tan has demonstrated a commitment to engineering pedagogy, with his "Designettes" framework for multidisciplinary design education earning nearly 80 citations. Across these diverse domains, his cumulative body of work reflects a researcher deeply invested in bridging theoretical innovation with real-world impact.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

14
H-Index
45
Papers
812
Total Citations
18
Avg Citations/Paper
🏆 Most Cited Paper
Design and Control of a 1-DOF MRI-Compatible Pneumatically Actuated Robot With Long Transmission Lines
103 citations · 2010
📈 Most Prolific Year: 2021 (6 Papers)
🤝 Key Collaborators: 105
🏛 Institutions: University of Maryland, College Park, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Nanyang Technological University

Top Papers

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Key Collaborators

Contact & Links

Available for collaboration
Content generated · 14 days ago