Zongmian Wu

Projects

Selected projects

This page summarises selected research and engineering projects spanning robotics, scientific computing, semiconductor design automation, and embedded systems. Further details are available on request.

Robotics & embodied intelligence

Learning-Based Control for Hexapod Robotics

Research Assistant · UCL Robot Perception and Learning Lab

05/2025–Present

Development of a six-legged robotic platform that combines nonlinear control and learning-based adaptive policies for terrain-aware locomotion.

  • Modelled full kinematics and dynamics of the hexapod using URDF.
  • Implemented and evaluated controllers in a ROS-based simulation environment.
Hexapod RoboticsNonlinear ControlLearning-Based ControlURDFROS

Programming-by-Demonstration for Manipulation

Third-Year Dissertation · UCL

09/2024–05/2025

CNN-based programming-by-demonstration framework that uses vision and sensor data to generalise robot motions from human demonstrations.

  • Applied convolutional neural networks to recognise demonstrated tasks.
  • Studied task perception, representation, and planning to enable autonomous execution of demonstrated skills.
Programming-by-DemonstrationCNNsComputer VisionManipulation

Robotic-Assisted Surgical Workflow for Conformal Bone Tumour Resection

Research Assistant · UCL

01/2025–03/2025

Design of an integrated workflow for robotic-assisted bone tumour resection using high-speed drilling and laser-based soft tissue cutting.

  • Implemented a tumour-fitting algorithm using BFGS optimisation to approximate tumour geometry.
  • Generated 3D cutting trajectories and adaptive actuation control for precise, conformal resections.
Surgical RoboticsOptimisationBFGSTrajectory Planning

Scientific computing & high-performance methods

Parallel and GPU-Accelerated Simulation Kernels

Coursework and mini-projects within the MPhil Scientific Computing programme, focusing on parallelisation for high-performance computing and programming with GPUs (CUDA).

  • Implemented parallel algorithms using MPI and OpenMP for distributed and shared-memory architectures.
  • Developed CUDA kernels and analysed performance, memory hierarchy usage, and scaling behaviour.
MPIOpenMPCUDAHPCScientific Computing

Control Systems Design and Analysis

Project Researcher · UCL

10/2023–11/2023

Design and analysis of feedback control systems using MATLAB/Simulink for a range of dynamic scenarios.

  • Constructed models to analyse stability, steady-state error, and settling time under different gains and inputs.
  • Explored potential deployment paths for embedded platforms, including FPGA-based implementations.
Control SystemsMATLABSimulinkFeedback Control

AI for semiconductors & devices

AI-driven TCAD Agent for Semiconductor Device Simulation

Software & AI Engineer · HKSTP

07/2025–09/2025

AI-assisted TCAD workflow that integrates retrieval-augmented generation and program synthesis to automate PSIM-based semiconductor device simulations.

  • Designed a hybrid dense–sparse retrieval pipeline (Qdrant + Ollama embeddings + BM25) for TCAD documentation and queries.
  • Implemented natural-language-driven PSIM script generation with self-correction loops, improving both speed and robustness of device simulations.
TCADRAGLLMsPSIMQdrant

Human–machine interfaces & embedded systems

Bio-signal Based Human–Machine Interface (EMG)

Team Leader · UCL

01/2024

Electromyography-based system for measuring muscle activity and using EMG signals to control external outputs via a microcontroller.

  • Designed analogue signal conditioning with instrumentation amplification, bandpass filtering, rectification, and integration stages.
  • Implemented analogue-to-digital conversion and created audio/visual displays to represent muscle activity and strength.
EMGAnalogue ElectronicsSignal ProcessingHuman–Machine Interface

FPGA Audio Descrambler

Lab Researcher · UCL

12/2023–02/2024

FPGA-based system for descrambling audio messages, combining digital filtering and mixed-signal design.

  • Integrated analogue front-end circuits with a digital system designed in Quartus Prime.
  • Developed a custom digital notch filter and used MATLAB for analysis and validation.
FPGADSPVerilogMATLAB

Robotics & industrial systems

Industrial Robotic System for Battery Dismantling

Electrical Design Engineer Intern · Manfred Automation

07/2023–08/2023

Electrical design for an industrial robotic system used in battery dismantling, including schematic design and integration with mechanical subsystems.

  • Produced electrical drawings in EPLAN Electric P8 and collaborated closely with mechanical design using SolidWorks CAD.
  • Refined the robotic system structure with additional actuation to improve loading and prevent cargo stacking.
Industrial RoboticsEPLANCADElectrical Design

Robot Maze Navigation Project

Team Leader · UCL

05/2023–06/2023

Design and implementation of circuits and control algorithms for a robot capable of completing a maze using sensor feedback.

  • Built subsystems enabling two-dimensional motion and obstacle detection.
  • Developed and iteratively refined Arduino-based algorithms for efficient and robust maze navigation.
RoboticsEmbedded SystemsArduinoSensors