On November 24, 2023, the 29th IEEE International Conference on Mechatronics and Machine Vision in Practice, organized by IEEE, concluded in Queenstown, New Zealand. A paper from Professor Zhong Yong's team from our institute was honored with the Winners of John Billingsley Best Conference Paper Award at the conference.

The award-winning paper, titled A Wire-Driven Flexible Vector-Propelled Robotic Fish with Omnidirectional Adaptive Caudal Fin, was the only paper in the field of mechatronics to receive an award at the conference. The lead author of the paper is Liang Yuhao, a 2021 master's student from our institute. The team focused on the efficient movement of biomimetic robotic fish in three-dimensional underwater spaces and proposed a flexible vector thruster based on two pairs of wire-driven mechanisms. This thruster significantly enhances the swimming efficiency of biomimetic robotic fish in space while reducing the complexity of mechanical structures, end-effectors, and control algorithms required for control. Based on theoretical foundations, Professor Zhong Yong's team built a prototype for experimental validation, offering a novel approach to the movement of biomimetic robotic fish in space and improving their efficiency in performing specific tasks under complex sea conditions.

The 29th IEEE International Conference on Mechatronics and Machine Vision in Practice (M2VIP 2023) is co-organized by IEEE, Massey University, the University of Leeds, and the University of Auckland. It serves as an interdisciplinary international forum for mechatronics and machine vision, covering topics including but not limited to applied robotics, smart sensors, artificial intelligence, novel functional materials, smart actuators, embedded computing, and medical rehabilitation mechatronic systems. The conference has a significant impact in the fields of mechatronics, machine vision, and robotics. The John Billingsley Best Conference Paper Award, named after the founder Professor John Billingsley, is a prestigious award presented to the best paper in the fields of mechatronics and machine vision at each conference. The organizing committee selects the best paper from all submissions, and the winners receive a certificate and a cash prize. (Photo and article by the SHIEN-MING WU School of Intelligent Engineering)