Curriculum Vitae

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Last updated: October 2026

Research Interests

Construction robotics; aerial–ground multi-robot systems (UAV–UGV, hexapod, and soft pneumatic platforms) for contact-based infrastructure inspection; visual–tactile–spatial multimodal sensing; adaptive robotic control and reinforcement learning; LLM-driven robot navigation and human–robot collaboration; computer vision for defect inspection.

Education

• Ph.D. Candidate, Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • Spring 2024 - present · Advisor: Dr. Houtan Jebelli · GPA: 3.91/4.00
  • Dissertation: Endowing Aerial Robots with Ground Mobility and Multimodal Perception for Autonomous Roof Inspection in Construction
• Master of Computer Science, Siebel School of Computing and Data Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • 2025 - 2027
  • Focus: Vision, Graphics, Interaction, and Robotics
  • GPA: 4.00/4.00 (Fall 2025 - present)
  • Coursework: Robotics (introduction to robotics, mobile robotics, deep learning for robotic manipulation, advanced computational robotics, construction robotics); AI and machine learning (artificial intelligence, deep learning, reinforcement learning, advanced NLP, LLM reasoning for engineering, security and privacy in ML); software and systems (software engineering, information retrieval, game development).
• Master’s Degree, Tsinghua University
  • 2019 - 2021 · Grade: 3.97/4.00

  • Teaching Assistant

    Robotic Digital Fabrication in Construction

  • Research Assistant

    3D Concrete Printing, Project Management and Lab Organization, Computational Design, Algorithm Optimization, Machine Learning, Data Visualization

• Bachelor’s Degree, Tianjin University
  • 2019 · Grade: 3.92/4.00
  • China National Scholarship ×3 (top 1%, awarded in 2015, 2016, and 2018)
  • University Outstanding Student Award (top 0.1%)
  • Department Outstanding Graduate Award (top 2%)

Academic Appointments

• Graduate Student Research Assistant, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, U.S.
  • Spring 2024 - present · Supervisor: Professor Houtan Jebelli
• Graduate Student, Icon Lab, Penn State University, Fall 2023
  • Robotic Construction Safety Training Prototype with Immersive Technology (VR)

  • Role: Team Leader

    Supervisor: Professor John Messner

  • Connected ROS and Unity 3D to control a robot-arm-mounted unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) in immersive simulation.
  • Built a game-based collision-avoidance training prototype for workers in human–robot construction teams.
• Research Assistant, DAIC (Digital Architecture and Robotic Construction) Lab, Tsinghua University
  • Jul. 2021 - Apr. 2023 · Supervisor: Professor Weiguo Xu
  • Extracted design information to program and control robot arms for large-scale 3D printing
  • Built robotic construction plug-ins for 3D printing, metal and wood cutting, and wall painting.

Teaching and Mentoring

• Teaching Assistant, Robotic Construction Research Series, Robotic Construction Group, Tsinghua University
  • Sep. 2022 - Apr. 2023 · Supervisor: Professor Weiguo Xu
  • Advised master’s graduation projects in robotic construction.
  • Topics: plastic 3D printing, wood cutting, and foam cutting with KUKA robot arms.
• Teaching Assistant, Tsinghua University Parametric Design Workshop 2019, Jul. 2019
  • Tutor: Casey Rehm
  • Project Title: Artificial Intelligence Architectural Design – 2D and 3D Generative Neural Network Techniques for Design Biomorphism
• Teaching Assistant, Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA) Workshop 2018, May 2018
  • Tutors: Shajay Bhooshan, Vishu Bhooshan, Henry Louth, Leo Claudius
  • Project Title: Developable Funicular Skeletons with Tensioning Membranes

Professional Experience

• Research Engineer, Institute of Future Human Habitats, Tsinghua University Shenzhen International Graduate School (SIGS)
  • 2021 - 2023
  • Developed large-scale robotic construction with composite consumables and building materials in an interdisciplinary team.
  • Built software interfaces for input and robot control.
• 3D Concrete Printing Specialist, Heqing Digital Building Technology Co.
  • 2020 - Apr. 2023
  • Delivered on-site robotic construction in China and the US: geometry, toolpaths, print programming, robot operation, and maintenance.
• Intern Architect, Zaha Hadid Architects
  • Jun. - Sept. 2020
  • Project Director: Satoshi Ohashi
  • Contributed to the winning competition design for Tower C of Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters
  • Contributed to preliminary design for Unicorn Island, Sichuan.
• Principal Designer, Rotatable Fine Extrusion Print Head Design for 3DCP Decorative Panels
  • Oct. 2021 - Feb. 2022
  • Partners: Zilu Guo, Qi Liu, Chenwei Sun
• Associate Project Manager, Wooden House Renovation with Multi-Robots 3D Printed Walls
  • Jul. - Aug. 2022
  • Project Leaders: Weiguo Xu, Chenwei Sun
  • Sponsor and Co-designer: University of Hong Kong, Prof. Lin John C.H.
• Principal Designer, Factory Facade Design Based on Style Transfer Machine Learning
  • 2022
  • Zhangjiakou, Hebei, China
• Lead Designer, Robot 3D Concrete Printed Model House for Low-income People in Africa
  • 2020

  • Project Leader: Weiguo Xu

    Wuxi, Zhejiang, China

• Designer and Engineer, Wujiazhuang Multi-Robots 3D Concrete Printed Farmhouse
  • 2020

  • Project Leaders: Weiguo Xu, Yuan Gao, Chenwei Sun

    Wujiazhuang, Hebei, China

Patent & Software Copyright

All applications are actively processed by the University of Illinois Office of Technology Management (OTM) for United States Provisional Application.

Patent Applications

1. BEAM (Bidirectional Environment Abstraction for Multi-Robot): A Method and System for Robotic Navigation in Construction Environments
2. Modular Bi-Directionally Bendable Soft Pneumatic Multi-Leg UAV Landing and Perception Platform for Contact-Based Infrastructure Inspection
3. Soft Pneumatic UAV Landing and Perception Platform with Visual-Tactile-Spatial Multimodal Sensing for Contact-Based Infrastructure Inspection
4. UAV-Deployable Soft-Rigid Hexapod Ground Module with Auto-Spinning Locking Undercarriage and Flippable Multimodal Inspection Arm for Non-Destructive Inspection and Multimodal Data Collection on Fragile Infrastructure

Software Copyright Applications

1. BEAM (Bidirectional Environment Abstraction for Multi-Robot): A Software Framework for Robotic Navigation in Construction Environments
2. SaHa: Slope-Adaptive and Hazard-Aware Robotic Control Software for Hexapod Roof Inspection
3. A UAV-Deployable Soft-Rigid Hexapod Ground Module for Multimodal Visual-Tactile-Spatial Data Collection on Fragile Infrastructure

Publications

Updated from Google Scholar, September 2026.

• Zhao, X., Liu, Y., Jebelli, H. (2026). "A soft pneumatic UAV landing and perception platform for gentle contact-based infrastructure inspection via visual-tactile-spatial multimodal sensing." Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, 100104. Details
• Guo, X., Li, Y., Kong, X., Jiang, Y., Zhao, X., Gong, Z., Zhang, Y., Li, D., et al. (2026). "Toward engineering AGI: Benchmarking the engineering design capabilities of LLMs." Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems, 38. Details
• Zhao, X., Ren, T., Jebelli, H. (2026). "LLM-Driven Safe Robotic Navigation in Construction Sites: A Prompt Engineering Framework with Terrain-Adaptive Path Planning." Computing in Civil Engineering 2025: Computational and Intelligent Technologies, 57-67. Details
• Ren, T., Zhao, X., Jebelli, H. (2026). "Dynamic Robotic Control Strategies for UAV Stability with Rotatory Payload." Computing in Civil Engineering 2025: Resilient, Robotic, and Educational Systems, 452-461. Details
• Zhao, X., Liu, Y., Driggs-Campbell, K., Jebelli, H. (2026). "Tactile-Aware Soft Hexapod UAV Gripper for Multi-Modal Aerial Manipulation in Construction." Construction Research Congress 2026, 196-206. Details
• Zhao, X., Jebelli, H. (2026). "Open-Vocabulary, Context-Aware Robot Navigation on Construction Sites: Integrating LLM-Driven Value Map Composition with Hierarchical Scene Graphs." Construction Research Congress 2026, 227-237. Details
• Zhao, X., Liu, Y., Jebelli, H. (2026). "Hybrid UAV-UGV System with Interchangeable Ground Modules for Multi-Terrain Construction Site Inspection." Computing in Civil Engineering 2025: Resilient, Robotic, and Educational Systems, 462-472. Details
• Ren, T., Hasan, I., Zhao, X., Liu, Y., Jebelli, H. (2026). "ConstrucSim: A Reproducible Platform for Dexterous Humanoid Robot Perception, Planning, and Contact in Construction." Construction Research Congress 2026, 45-55. Details
• Zhao, X., Liu, Y., Jebelli, H. (2025). "Module-Enhanced Slope-Adaptive and Hazard-Aware Hexapod Robotic System for Safe Roof Inspection." ASCE OPEN: Multidisciplinary Journal of Civil Engineering, 3(1), 04025011. Details
• Zhao, X., Jebelli, H. (2025). "A computational method for real-time roof defect segmentation in robotic inspection." Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, 40(23), 3596-3623. Details
• Ren, T., Zhao, X., Jebelli, H. (2025). "Advanced Sensor Integration for Enhanced Flight Control in UAV-Based Construction Automation." Proceedings of the 42nd International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC), Montreal, QC, Canada, 28-31. Details
• Zhao, X., Ren, T., Liu, Y., Jebelli, H. (2025). "A Pneumatic Sensor-Equipped Hexapod Landing Gear and Gripper System for Gentle Drone Contact with Building Envelopes and Energy Assets." Olympiad in Engineering Science, 592-609. Details
• Ren, T., Zhao, X., Jebelli, H. (2025). "Autonomous Drone-Based System for Precision, Non-contact Surface Finishing in Construction." Olympiad in Engineering Science, 580-591. Details
• Liu, J., Ping, Y., Wang, Y., Zhao, X. (2025). "Machine Learning-Based Optimization for Modular Robotic Systems in Construction: A Review." Computing in Civil Engineering 2024, 851-860. Details
• Zhao, X., Jebelli, H. (2025). "Adaptive kinematic and dynamic control for hexapod robots in complex construction environments." Proc., 42nd Int. Symp. on Automation and Robotics in Construction. Montreal, Canada: Concordia University. Details
• Zhao, X., Ren, T., Liu, Y., Jebelli, H. (2025). "Sensor Fusion and Hierarchical Inspection Strategy for Aerial-Ground Multi-robot System." 42nd International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC 2025). Details
• Ojha, A., Gautam, Y., Zhao, X., Sharifironizi, A., Jebelli, H., Martin, A. (2024). "Understanding the Impact of an Exoskeleton System on the Metabolic Cost of Workers during Common Repetitive Construction Tasks." Computing in Civil Engineering 2024, 646-655. Details
• Ojha, A., Zhao, X., Zhang, Y., Liu, Y., Jebelli, H. (2024). "Improving Heat Strain Prediction in Construction Workers: A Transfer Learning Approach to Overcome Variability Challenges." Computing in Civil Engineering 2024, 877-886. Details
• Zhao, X., Jebelli, H. (2024). "Grounding Large Language Models in Robot Control: Facilitating Human-Robot Collaboration in Construction." Computing in Civil Engineering 2024, 933-941. Details
• Zhao, X., Ren, T., Jebelli, H. (2024). "Adaptive Intelligence for Robot Navigation Efficiency with a Deep Reinforcement Learning-Based Cyber-Physical System." Computing in Civil Engineering 2024, 831-840. Details
• Ye, W., Chen, S., Zhao, X., Xu, W. (2022). "Porous space—biomimetic of tafoni in computational design." Architectural Intelligence, 1(1), 18. Details
• Ye, W., Zhao, X., Xu, W. (2022). "Simulation Algorithm Based on Weathered Rock Morphology and Optimization Algorithm for Design Applications." The International Conference on Computational Design and Robotic Fabrication, 110-121. Details
• Zhao, X., Xu, W. (2021). "Research Progress and Current Applications of 3D Printing Construction Technology." Chinese & Overseas Architecture, 10, 7-13. Details

Full publication profile: Google Scholar.

Awards and Honors

Academic Awards

• Olympiad Medalist – All Engineering Field, 2025 Olympiad in Engineering Science (2025)
  • Held at the University of Stavanger, Norway
  • Submission: Autonomous Drone-based System for Precision, Non-contact Surface Finishing in Construction
  • Team: Tianyu Ren, Xiayu (Summer) Zhao, Houtan Jebelli
• First Place – ASCE 2025 Global Robotics and Automation Competition (2025)
  • 2025 ASCE Computing Conference, New Orleans, hosted by the ASCE Computing Division
  • Submission: Module-enhanced Slope-Adaptive and Hazard-Aware Hexapod Robotic System for Safe Roof Inspection
  • Team: Xiayu (Summer) Zhao, Houtan Jebelli
• Journal Cover Feature – Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering (2025)
  • Paper: A Computational Method for Real-time Roof Defect Segmentation in Robotic Inspection
• Outstanding Graduate Award (2019)
• Outstanding Graduation Design Award (2019)
• Tianjin University’s Outstanding Student Award (1/1000) (2019)
• Outstanding Project Assignment in National Higher Education Institutions (2017)
• Honorable Mention – Skyscraper Competition (eVolo) (2018)
  • Team: Jiangchen Hu, Yining Bei, Mingwen Zhang
• China Architecture Newcomers Competition – Top 100 Award (2017)
• 4th National Tournament of Green Building Innovation – First Prize (2015)
  • Team: Adela Wei, Mark Wang, Mason Yang, Yu Zhao
  • Sponsor: The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)

Academic Scholarships

• University Graduate Fellowship, Pennsylvania State University (2023)
• College of Engineering Scholarship, College of Engineering, PSU (2023)
• China National Scholarship (1/101) (2018)
• China National Scholarship (1/97) (2016)
• China National Scholarship (1/94) (2015)
  • Sponsor: Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China

Service & Leadership

Journal & Conference Reviewer (Selected)

Journal Reviewer

• Automation in Construction
• Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence
• Developments in the Built Environment
• Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science
• ASCE Open Journal

Conference Reviewer

• 2027 IEEE International Conference on Robotics & Automation (ICRA 2027)
• ASCE International Conference on Computing in Civil Engineering (i3CE 2024)
• ASCE International Conference on Computing in Civil Engineering (i3CE 2025)
• ASCE International Conference on Computing in Civil Engineering (i3CE 2026)
• 42nd International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC 2025)
• 43rd International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC 2026)
• 12th International Conference on Industrial Ecology (ISIE 2025)
• ASCE CI & CRC 2026 Joint Conference
• 2026 IEEE International Conference on Intelligence and Safety for Robotics / Safety of Industrial Automated Systems (ISR-SIAS 2026)

Leadership and Activities

• Student Member, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Fall 2023 - present
• Cat Foster Volunteer, Vermilion County Animal Shelter, 2025 - present
• Team Leader, Data Forum Center, Tsinghua University Student Union, Fall 2020
• Activity Manager, Sports Department of Graduate Student Union, Tsinghua University, Fall 2019
• Event Organizer, Purple (LGBTQ+ Community), Tsinghua University, Fall 2019 - Spring 2021
• Team Member, Women’s Soccer Team, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, 2019 - 2020

Exhibitions and Invited Speeches

• Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture 2022, Apr. 2022 - Jan. 2023
  • Title: Assembled 3D Printed Concrete Urban Miniature Garden

  • Role: Lead Exhibit Designer

    Kingway Brewery, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China

• Design as Solution: Shenzhen Design Week 2021, Dec. 2021
  • Title: Robotic 3D Printed Concrete Construction Works

  • Role: Keynote Speaker & Lead Exhibit Designer

    UpperHills, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China

• Future-Home: Beijing Urban Architecture Biennale 2021, Oct. 2021

  • Role: Exhibit Designer

    Zhangjiawan Design Town, Beijing Urban Vice Center

Skills

Computer Skills

Robot Programming/OS: ROS, Industrial Robot Language (URScript), C#

Programming: Matlab, Python, R, C++

Simulation: Unity, Unreal Engine

Statistics: IBM-SPSS

Design & BIM: AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino, Grasshopper, Sketch-Up, SolidWorks, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator

Tools: MS-Office, LaTeX, Google Colab, Jupyter Notebook

Languages

• English: Professional proficiency
• Chinese: Native

References

Available upon request.