Yihan Cheng

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Yihan Cheng is a leading scholar in the geography of innovation and industrial technology diffusion, with a primary focus on the global trade dynamics of advanced manufacturing technologies. Her most-cited work, "Spatial-temporal variation characteristics and evolution of the global industrial robot trade: A complex network analysis" (2019, 18 citations), provides a pioneering empirical study of how industrial robots—a cornerstone of artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing—flow across international borders. By applying complex network analysis to two decades of trade data (1998–2017), Cheng reveals the shifting power structures and spatial hierarchies that govern the global distribution of this strategic technology. Her research illuminates how the industrial robot trade network has evolved from a concentrated, core-periphery system into a more decentralized, multipolar structure, identifying key hub nations and emerging pathways. This work is critical for understanding the geopolitical and economic implications of automation, offering actionable insights for policymakers and industry leaders navigating the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Cheng’s contributions bridge economic geography, network science, and innovation studies, establishing her as a vital voice in the discourse on technology-driven global change.