Precision Mechatronics and Control Lab Website: http://sites.utexas.edu/pmcl/

Dr. Lei Zhou is an Assistant Professor in the Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Zhou received her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2019. She also holds an M.S. (2014) in Mechanical Engineering from MIT and a B.E. (2012) in Control and Instrumentation Engineering from Tsinghua University. Prior to joining UT Austin, Dr. Zhou worked as a Visiting Research Scientist at the Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories for one year.

At the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Zhou directs the Precision Mechatronics and Control Lab (PMCL). Dr. Zhou’s research centers on the design and control of precision mechatronic systems for various applications such as manufacturing equipment, scientific instruments, and robots. She has conducted research in topics including precision motion control, actuators for satellite attitude control, high-torque direct-drive electric machines, magnetic suspensions and bearingless motors, and precision motion systems for semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

Selected publications

1. Lei Zhou, David L. Trumper, “Magnetically Levitated Linear Stage with Linear Bearingless Slice Hysteresis Motors”, IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, 2020, in press.
2. Lei Zhou, Jun Young Yoon, Alexander Andren, Mohammad Imani Nejad, Blair T. Allison, David L. Trumper, “FlexLab and LevLab: A Portable Control and Mechatronics Educational System”, IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics 25.1 (2019): 305-315.
3. Jun Young Yoon, Lei Zhou, David L. Trumper, “Linear Stages for Next Generation Precision Motion Systems”, In Proc. IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics (AIM), Jul. 2019.
4. Lei Zhou, Wolfgang Gruber, and David L. Trumper, “Position control for hysteresis motors: Transient-time model and field-oriented control." IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications 54.4 (2018): 3197-3207.
5. Lei Zhou, Mohammad Imani Nejad, David L. Trumper, “One-axis Hysteresis Motor Driven Magnetically Suspended Reaction Sphere”, Mechatronics, 42 (2017): 69-80.
6. Lei Zhou, David L. Trumper, “Reluctance Force Magnetic Suspension Characteristics and Control for Cylindrical Rotor Bearingless Motor”, Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement, and Control, 139, No. 3 (2017): 031003.
7. Yebin Wang, Huazhen Fang, Lei Zhou, Toshihiro Wada, “Revisiting the State-of-Charge Estimation for Lithium-ion Batteries: A Methodical Investigation of the EKF Approach”, IEEE Control Systems, 37, No. 4, pp 73-96, 2017.