Year: 2025

Visit from Prof. Yu-Hsiu (Martin) Lee and Students

Po-Chih Chen News

We were delighted to welcome back Prof. Yu-Hsiu (Martin), a former member of MacLab, who visited us recently together with two of his students.

During their visit, Prof. Yu-Hsiu and his team shared presentations on their latest research projects. Their talks highlighted exciting advances and opened up stimulating discussions with our group. It was wonderful to see how their work has grown and to reconnect with Martin as part of the extended MacLab community.

We truly appreciate their visit and the opportunity to exchange ideas. Encounters like this remind us of the importance of collaboration and of maintaining strong ties with our alumni around the world.

An MR-Compatible Motion Stage for Respiratory Motion Emulation

Jing-Yuan Huang Research

A collaboration between Maclab and Radiological Sciences, the MR
Robot is a hydrostatically actuated robotic system for real-time
MRI-guided interventions. Real-time image visualization and guidance are
 crucial for minimally invasive cancer interventions (e.g., prostate and
 abdomen). While the MRI provides excellent tissue contrast,
multi-planar imaging, and non-ionizing energy, the closed bore limits
physical access to the patient. For this reason, a MRI-compatabile
robotic device is developed

Airborne Manipulator with Twisting and Tilting Rotors for Omnidirectional Thrust Vectoring

Jing-Yuan Huang Research
In this project, we introduce a flying vehicle that overcomes the
inherent maneuverability limitations of traditional multirotors. Full
directional authority is enabled on each individual thrust vector by
introducing two additional degrees of freedom (twist and tilt) to each
rotor. The resulting system possesses omnidirectional thrust-vectoring
capabilities, fully decouples the position and attitude dynamics, and
minimizes wasted thrust over its entire configuration space.

Linear Motor

Jing-Yuan Huang Research
Linear motors have been widely used in lithography, which are usually
 realized with optomechanical devices called a wafer scanner. Linear
motors can provide both large travel range and precise motion. Nonlinear
 back lash and contact friction effects are also avoided with direct
drive linear motors supported by air bearings or electromagnetic
levitation.

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)

Jing-Yuan Huang Research
HIFU utilizes intersecting beams of ultrasound waves to create a high
 intensity focal point. When the focus is located in soft tissue, the
acoustic energy is absorbed and converted into heat. Beyond a certain
threshold, this heat causes thermal coagulation of the tissue resulting
in localized cell death. The key advantage of HIFU is that it is
noninvasive. It does not require skin puncture and healthy tissue in the
 ultrasound near Þeld is left undamaged by the treatment.

Magnetic Bearing

Jing-Yuan Huang Research

The MBC500 is a tabletop rotor system supported by electro-magnets
rather than traditional journal bearings. Fitted with a turbine, the
rotor can be spun up to high speeds to investigate various control
stategies regarding the stabilization of a spinning rotor. Due to the
actuator-sensor configuration, the MBC500 is also a good Multi-Input
Multi-Output (MIMO) testbed for controls research.