Prof. Kok-Meng Lee, IEEE Fellow, ASME Fellow
Editor-in-Chief, IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics
Professor, George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0405, USA
Email: kokmeng.lee@me.gatech.edu
Distinguished Professor, School of Mechanical Science and Engineering
Huazhong University of Science and Technology Professor
Wuhan, Hubei, China
Paradigm Shift, Challenges and Opportunities in Mechatronics, Intelligent Manufacturing
and Innovative Applications
Prof. K. M Lee, IEEE Fellow, ASME Fellow
Past Editor-in-Chief, IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics
Abstract: The growth of computing, communication and control (3C) technologies has played an
important role in the rapid advances of robotics, automation and mechatronics (RAM). Over the last
three decades, the 3C technologies have undergone several evolutions; notably the increase in
frequency and transistor density in embedded processors, the convergence of several consumer
electronics (watch, phone, camera, PDA, etc.), the connectivity of mobile applications to the
internet, and more recently the decoupling of computing and storage together with exponential
growth of massive data processing leading to cloud computing. This talk begins with examining
the effect of the major paradigm shift in 3C technologies on RAM and innovative applications which
evolve in parallel with societal changes in response to concerns in energy, transport and mobility,
aging population and healthcare, environment, productivity and safety. Selected examples are given
to help illustrate unique opportunities and challenges presented to mechatronics and intelligent
manufacturing with focuses on new approaches that take advantages of many similarities to those
existing in natural processes; notably the nature inspired solutions. The intended audience of this
talk includes undergraduates, graduate students and faculty with technology backgrounds.
The objective is to stimulate discussion of the future of RAM research and its potential
application to the problems facing society in a rapidly changing world.
Brief Biography:
Dr. Kok-Meng Lee received his S. M. and Ph. D. degrees in mechanical engineering from
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1982 and 1985 respectively. Since 1985, Dr. Lee
has been a faculty with the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at
Georgia Institute of Technology. Currently, he is Professor of Mechanical Engineering at
Georgia Tech. He was also honored as Pao Yu-Kong Chair Professor at Zhejiang University.
He is currently on leave from Georgia Tech and is Distinguished Professor with the State Key
Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology at Huazhong University of
Science and Technology under the National Recruitment Program of Global Experts. His
research interests include system dynamics/control, robotics, automation, machine vision, and
mechatronics. Dr. Lee is a fellow of IEEE and ASME. Recognitions of his research
contributions include the NSF Presidential Young Investigator (PYI) Award, Sigma Xi Junior
Faculty Award, International Hall of Fame New Technology Award, Woodruff Faculty Fellow,
three best paper awards and ten U. S., Canada and European patents. He is also recognized
as advisor for nine Best Student Paper and Thesis Awards.
Dr. Lee is Editor-in-Chief for the IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics (TMech) since
2008. Prior to this appointment, he served as Technical Editor for TMech (1995-1999) and as
Associate Editor for IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Magazine (1994-1996), IEEE
Transactions on Robotics and Automation (1994-1998) and IEEE Transactions on
Automation Science and Engineering (2003-2005). He was ICRA Local Chair (1993),
IEEE/ASME AIM General Co-Chair (1997), General Chair (1999) and as ASME Liaison for
IEEE/ASME AIM since its inception.