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About

Wai Leung Chan is a leading researcher in bio-inspired underwater robotics, specializing in ostraciiform swimming—the simplest form of fish locomotion, where propulsion is generated solely by a flapping caudal fin without body undulation. His work focuses on the hydrodynamic characterization and control of fish-like robots, aiming to develop efficient, maneuverable underwater vehicles for marine exploration and surveillance. Chan’s major contributions include the simultaneous determination of drag coefficient and added mass for submerged objects, a critical advance for dynamic modeling of bio-mimetic robots and underwater vehicles. His most cited paper (2011, 38 citations) provides a foundational method for extracting these essential parameters, which are notoriously shape-dependent and difficult to approximate theoretically. Through a series of experimental studies (2007–2009), he systematically identified how flapping frequency, fin rigidity, and turning parameters affect thrust and steering in ostraciiform robots, demonstrating that simple mechanical designs can achieve effective swimming. Chan also developed H∞ controllers for robust swimming control, bridging theory and application. His cumulative work, with over 67 citations, has established key design principles for low-complexity, bio-inspired underwater propulsion systems, making him a notable figure in the field of robotic fish and autonomous underwater vehicles.