XiaoQi Chen is well-recognised for outstanding contributions in the complementary arenas of autonomous robots, automation, and digital manufacturing. His autonomous climbing robot led to start-up Invert Robotics (2010-), an international company acquired by EU investment/technology firms. His significant research in mobile agricultural robots developed a novel biomimetic tree-to-tree (swinging) steep terrain traversing robot. This breakthrough significantly contributes to the vision of New Zealand forestry industry: “no worker on the slope, no hand on the chainsaw”. The technology was taken to market by SCION and Forestry Owners Association, generating direct economic benefits of more than $50 million per annum. XiaoQi was also instrumental in innovating soft contact compliant and force controlled robots for adaptive machining of free form aerofoils. The system, considered first-of-its-kind in 1999, re-manufactures turbine aerofoils, and also reduced cycle time by 40%. This breakthrough shortens aircraft ground time and creates new opportunities for robotic overhauling of aero-engine components. It has become a new benchmark for the industry and has been adopted by Rolls-Royce and major aero-engine manufacturers.
