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About

Shahram Payandeh is a prominent robotics and human-computer interaction researcher whose work spans surgical robotics, haptic systems, robotic control, and multi-agent motion planning. Based at Simon Fraser University, Payandeh has made sustained contributions to the engineering foundations of minimally invasive surgery (MIS), developing robotic positioning systems and visual tracking technologies that reduce the burden on surgical teams during laparoscopic procedures. His 2002 paper on visual tracking for robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery (63 citations) remains his most influential work, demonstrating how autonomous endoscope control could replace manual assistant intervention during complex operations. Complementing this, his early studies on optimal laparoscopic positioning stand design (39 citations) and broader engineering approaches to MIS robotics (43 citations) helped establish a rigorous mechanical design vocabulary for surgical robots. Beyond surgery, Payandeh has advanced haptic rendering techniques — bridging finite element modeling with force-feedback interfaces — and explored tactile sensing for curved surface recognition. His later research extended into coordinated multi-robot formation control and real-time multi-agent motion planning in virtual environments, reflecting a career-long interest in intelligent, collaborative robotic systems. With over 300 cumulative citations across his key works, Payandeh's research represents a rich intersection of control theory, surgical engineering, and interactive simulation.