Yanzhu Du

Stanford University, National University of Singapore

Papers

Total Citations

161

H-Index

About

Yanzhu Du is a leading researcher in robotics and autonomous systems, specializing in motion planning under uncertainty. Her work addresses the critical challenge of enabling robots to operate reliably in dynamic, unpredictable environments over extended time horizons. Du’s most influential contribution, the 2010 paper "Motion planning under uncertainty for robotic tasks with long time horizons," has garnered 133 citations, establishing her as a key figure in applying partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDPs) to real-world robotic tasks. She pioneered probabilistic frameworks that allow robots to make robust decisions despite imperfect state information, significantly advancing the field’s ability to handle long-term autonomy. A follow-up 2011 paper further refined these methods, earning 28 citations. Du’s research bridges theoretical rigor and practical application, offering foundational tools for autonomous navigation, manipulation, and exploration. Her work is essential reading for students and researchers tackling uncertainty in robotics, and her achievements underscore her role in shaping modern approaches to reliable, long-horizon robotic planning.