Zih-Rong Lu

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Dr. Zih-Rong Lu is a roboticist whose work centers on autonomous navigation and environmental mapping for mobile robots operating in unknown spaces. His most cited paper, "Wheeled robot navigation and local-map building in unknown environments" (2013), introduces a practical framework for wheeled mobile robots (WMRs) to simultaneously construct local maps and avoid obstacles without prior knowledge of their surroundings. By integrating a Laser Range Finder (LRF) with a Vector Field Histogram approach, Lu’s method enables real-time obstacle detection and path planning, allowing the robot to navigate safely through complex, unstructured environments. This contribution is foundational for applications in search-and-rescue, industrial automation, and field robotics, where pre-mapped data is unavailable. While his citation count is modest, the work demonstrates a clear, implementable solution to a core challenge in mobile robotics—balancing exploration with collision avoidance. Lu’s research highlights the importance of sensor-driven, reactive navigation strategies, offering a stepping stone for students and engineers developing autonomous systems that must adapt on the fly. His focus on practical, sensor-based mapping continues to inform low-cost, robust navigation designs.