Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Zhigang Shang is a leading researcher in the emerging field of animal-robot integration, with a specific focus on avian robotics and neural control systems. His work centers on understanding and manipulating the neural mechanisms underlying flight and behavior in pigeons, aiming to create more sophisticated and naturally controlled pigeon robots. Shang’s major contributions involve pioneering the use of instinctive fear emotions—specifically those mediated by the stratum griseum periventriculare in the midbrain—to regulate motor behavior, a significant departure from traditional forced electrical stimulation of motor nuclei. His highly cited 2023 paper on this topic has garnered 6 citations, establishing a foundational concept in the field. He has further advanced the discipline by decoding typical flight states from midbrain neural signals (2024, 3 citations) and by developing methods to create virtual fear states for locomotion control (2023, 3 citations). Shang’s innovative approach, which prioritizes biological perception and decision-making over external commands, represents a critical step toward more autonomous and adaptive animal-machine interfaces, positioning him as a key figure in the future of bio-inspired robotics.