Academic Lecture: High-Performance Flight Algorithms and Their Applications

High-Performance Flight Algorithms and Their Applications

Lyu Ximin, School of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University

March 27, 2026 (Friday) 15:00

This report systematically introduces a series of innovations by the HI LAB at Sun Yat-sen University in high-performance flight algorithms for drones. To address the challenge of “long endurance”, we proposed new configurations such as coaxial dual-rotor and reconfigurable tail-sitter drones. Through innovative designs such as swashplateless systems, we achieved breakthroughs in endurance and maneuverability on miniaturized platforms. Focusing on “flying well”, we developed real-time wind field perception technology relying solely on onboard sensors and innovatively used human pose estimation to predict projectile trajectories, achieving proactive forward-looking avoidance. At the “interactive” level, we broke through key technologies such as precise control of flying robotic arms, object grasping based on visual-inertial perception, and autonomous precise aerial throwing, endowing drones with dexterous manipulation and interaction capabilities. The above achievements collectively form a complete technology chain from platform and perception to operation, laying a partial foundation for the autonomy and practical application of next-generation intelligent unmanned systems.

Lyu Ximin, Associate Professor under the “Hundred Talents Program” at Sun Yat-sen University and doctoral supervisor. Co-founder of Differential Robotics. He is a recipient of the Guangzhou Young Scientific and Technological Talent Support Program, a Shenzhen Outstanding Innovation Talent, and a Shenzhen High-Level Overseas Talent. He received his Ph.D. from the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. From 2019 to 2021, he worked at DJI (Hong Kong) as a Senior Control Algorithm Researcher, responsible for flight control algorithm development for models such as DJI FPV and DJI Mini. In recent years, he has been dedicated to drone-related algorithm research and practical applications, publishing more than 40 high-level papers, including cover articles in Science Robotics and papers in top journals and conferences such as TRO, RAL, ICRA, and IROS. He received the Best Paper Award in Robot Mechanism and Design at IROS 2023 and nominations for the Best Overall Paper and Best Student Paper at IROS 2023. He has applied for or been granted 3 U.S. patents and more than 20 Chinese invention patents, most of which have been widely applied in industry products.

Prepared by: Ren Luyang

Typeset by: Chen Shifa

First Review and Proofreading: Ren Luyang

Second Review and Proofreading: Ma Jiang

Third Review and Proofreading: Zheng Chun