Yisen Li gained hands-on experience taking robotics research from simulation to real-world deployment on Unitree G1 humanoid robot at the Embodied Technology for Autonomy, Intelligence, and Control (ETAIC) Lab at The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) in Arlington, Texas. That’s where Li interned under the supervision of Dr. Hongtei Eric Tseng at UTA and Dr. Hao Zhang at Carnegie Mellon University. As a second-year EE masters student, Li valued the opportunity to work directly with real humanoid robots and experience the full process of turning research ideas into a functioning physical system.
“I learned how to develop multi-agent robotic systems in which robots must coordinate not only with one another, but also with a human partner to accomplish a shared physical task, “ Li explains. “One of the most rewarding parts of the experience was conducting human-robot collaborative transport experiments, where one person and two humanoid robots worked together to move a shared object through different environments,” Li adds. To emphasize the significance of this experience, Li clarifies, “I learned that successful robotics research goes far beyond developing an algorithm—it requires bringing together control, sensing, communication, safety, and hardware to build a system that works reliably in the real world.”
Beyond the ability to work directly with real humanoid robots, Li holds the mentorship he received in high esteem. As noted above, Li worked with researchers from both UTA and Carnegie Mellon. “Their different perspectives helped me better understand both the research and engineering sides of robotics. This experience gave me a much clearer picture of the type of robotics research I hope to pursue in the future.”
When Li isn’t working, he enjoys watching interviews with leading researchers and industry experts. This helps him “learn about emerging technologies and new directions in robotics and related fields.” In addition, Li also enjoys “traveling and photography, especially capturing interesting places, memorable moments, and everyday life through photos.”