Yang Yang 杨洋

Hello! My name is Yang Yang. I am a second-year PhD student in Mechanical Engineering at University of Southern California (USC), advised by Prof. Hangbo Zhao. Prior to that, I obtained my B.ENG degree with Honors in Mechanics from Sichuan University (SCU) in 2025. I was fortunate to work with Professors Hongliang Ren, Wenbo Ding, Daolin Ma and Hong Zhang.

My research interests lie in robotics and sensing. I am passionate about designing tactile sensors for dexterous robotic manipulation and biomedical applications.

Seeking Summer 2027 research / engineering internships in robotic tactile sensing and manipulation.

If you are interested in anything about me and my research, please feel free to contact me at: yyang672@usc.edu

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[Jun 2026] I passed the Screening Exam for my PhD Program at USC!

[Oct 2025] Our Paper on Multi-model Tactile Sensor was accepted by Nature Sensors!

[Aug 2025] Our Paper on Vision-based Tactile Sensor was accepted by International Conference on Biomimetic Intelligence and Robotics (ICBIR) 2025.

[Jun 2025] I graduated from Sichuan University with a Honor B.ENG. degree in Mechanics!

[May 2025] I was awarded the Top 100 Students of Sichuan University.

[Apr 2025] Our Paper on Smart Tire was accepted by IEEE Transactions on Mechatronics (TMech).

[Jan 2025] Our Paper on FBG-based sensor was accepted by IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) 2025. See you in Atlanta!

[Oct 2024] Our Paper on Machine-learning and Finite Element Method on Plasticity Model was accepted by Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance (JMEP).

[Jun 2024] Our Paper on Deep learning for Fatigue Life Prediction was accepted by Engineering Fracture Mechanics (EFM).

🎓 Research Experience

Doctoral Research, Aug 2025 - Present

University of Southern California (USC), Supervised by Prof. Hangbo Zhao
Research Assistant, Oct 2024 - May 2025

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Supervised by Prof. Hongliang Ren

Laboratory: Lab of Robotics, Embodied AI, Navigation in vivo (LabREN)
Summer Research Intern, Jun 2024 - Aug 2024

Tsinghua University (THU), Supervised by Prof. Wenbo Ding

Laboratory: Smart Sensing and Robotics Group (SSR Group)
Summer Research Intern, Jun 2023 - Aug 2023

Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), Supervised by Prof. Daolin Ma

Laboratory: Manipulation Perception and Intelligence Lab (MPI Lab)

📚 Teaching Assistant

Dynamics, University of Southern California (USC), Fall 2026
Structural Mechanics, Sichuan University, Spring 2024

🏆 Selected Honors

USC Viterbi School of Engineering Graduate School Fellowship, 2025
Top 100 undergrad Students of Sichuan University, 2025
Second Prize of Academic Scholarship at Sichuan University, 2024
First Prize of Sichuan Mechanics Competition Individual Race, 2023
First Prize of Sichuan Mechanics Competition Group Race (Leader), 2023
First Prize of Academic Scholarship at Sichuan University, 2023
Outstanding Students of Sichuan University, 2023

Academic Service

Reviewer, ICRA, AJRIS

CoTac: Co-located Electro-Visual Tactile Sensor

Yang Yang, Yukai Jin, Yuwen Zhang, Olivia Leatherman, Hangbo Zhao
Ongoing Project
Video

Morphable Nerve Cuffs for Neural Stimulation and Recording on Sub-mm Peripheral Nerves

Xinghao Huang^†, Yang Yang^†, Shaowu Tang, Zixin Chen, Yukai Jin, Max Li, Liheng Yang, Jialu Wu, Dong Song, Hangbo Zhao
Manuscript in Preparation · † Equal Contribution
Video

Strong, switchable electroadhesive clutches from microphase-separated ionoelastomers for multifunctional robotic interfaces

Changgeng Zhang, Shukun Yin, Xinghao Huang, Yang Yang, Xuebing Zhang, Qinai Zhao, Wei Gao, Hangbo Zhao
In Revision at Nature Communications
Video

Biomimetic multimodal tactile sensing enables human-like robotic perception

Shoujie Li^†, Tong Wu^†, Jianle Xu^†, Yan Huang, Zongwen Zhang, Hongfa Zhao, Qinghao Xu, Zihan Wang, Linqi Ye, Yang Yang, Chuqiao Lyu, Shilong Mu, Xueqian Wang, Zhaoqian Xie, Changsheng Wu, Xinge Yu, Wenbo Ding
Nature Sensors
Webpage | PDF | Video

Conformable Vision-Based Tactile Sensor with Enhanced Soft Elastomer Design for Palpating Irregular Anatomical Surfaces

Yang Yang, Tao Zhang, Yupeng Wang, Wenchao Yue, Tangyou Liu, Hongliang Ren
International Conference on Biomimetic Intelligence and Robotics 2025 (ICBIR)
Webpage | PDF | Video

Vitire: A Bimodel Visuotactile Tire with High-Resolution Sensing Capability

Shoujie Li^†, Jianle Xu^†, Tong Wu, Yang Yang, Yanbo Chen, Xueqian Wang, Wenbo Ding, Xiao-ping Zhang
IEEE Transactions on Mechatronics
Webpage | PDF | Video

Three-dimension Tip Force Perception and Axial Contact Location Identification for Flexible Endoscopes using Tissue-compliant Soft Distal Attachment Cap Sensors

Tao Zhang^†, Yang Yang^†, Yang Yang, Huxin Gao, Jiewen Lai, Hongliang Ren
International Conference on Robotics & Automation (ICRA) 2025
Webpage | PDF | Video

Machine-learning and finite element-based temperature- and rate-dependent plasticity model: application to the tensile behaviour on MarBN steel

Bo Zhang, Yang Yang, Hao Wu, Yida Zhang, Quanyi Wang, Hong Zhang, Yongjie Liu, Qingyuan Wang
Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance
Webpage | PDF

A deep learning approach for low-cycle fatigue life prediction under thermal-mechanical loading based on a novel neural network model

Yang Yang, Bo Zhang, Hao Wu, Yida Zhang, Hong Zhang, Yongjie Liu, Qingyuan Wang
Engineering Fracture Mechanics
Webpage | PDF

I am keeping pursuing and trying both in research and life.

Here are various activities I do in my free time:

🎵 Music (Pop music, C-pop, Hip-hop, K-pop, Rock, Country, Folk)
🏀 Basketball
✈️ Traveling
🥾 Hiking
🧗 Rock Climbing
🎤 Cross Talk
🎩 Magic
🚶 Strolling around

Feel free to chat with me!