Darío Fernando Yépez Ponce | Robotics and Automation | Editorial Board Member

Prof. Darío Fernando Yépez Ponce | Robotics and Automation | Editorial Board Member

Docente Investigador | Instituto Superior Universitario Central Técnico | Ecuador

Darío Fernando Yépez Ponce is a mechatronics and automation engineer and academic from Ecuador, currently working as a faculty member in electronics at Instituto Superior Universitario Central Técnico in Quito (since October 2024). His background includes an engineering degree in mechatronics (2016) from Universidad Técnica del Norte, plus ongoing postgraduate studies (Master’s in Electronics and Automation) at Universidad Politécnica Salesiana. Over the years he has served as a lecturer in various institutions across Ecuador teaching mechatronics, electronics, and automation engineering.Professor Yépez’s research interest concentrates on robotics, control systems (notably PID control), autonomous systems (including unmanned ground vehicles), microgrids and power electronics, IoT-based automation, and applications of mechatronics in agriculture and automation systems. His work shows a recurrent focus on optimization algorithms, control strategies, mobile robotics, and intelligent systems for automation and smart farming. Notable recent outputs include a 2025 journal article titled “Route Optimization for UGVs: A Systematic Analysis of Applications, Algorithms and Challenges,” which analyses algorithms for path planning in autonomous ground vehicles. In terms of research productivity and impact: according to his publicly visible profile, he has a Google Scholar citation count of about 113 citations.Publications span journal articles, conference papers, and book chapters. For example, his 2025 UGV-optimization article is indexed in major journals. The breadth of his work — from control system tuning (e.g., PID controllers via hybrid optimization strategies) to IoT-based systems and robotics — reflects a versatile research skill set in automation, control, robotics, power electronics, and applied mechatronics.Although I could not find a definitive public value for his Scopus h-index or total Scopus-document count (his Scopus Author ID is 57220807265), the combination of his journal-indexed articles, book chapters and recent contributions suggests a growing research profile, particularly in robotics, automation, and sustainable/renewable-power applications.In conclusion, Darío Fernando Yépez Ponce represents a dynamic and interdisciplinary researcher bridging mechatronics, control systems, automation, and robotics — with an orientation toward real-world applications such as autonomous vehicles and smart farming. His emerging publication record and international-indexed works position him as an active contributor in automation and mechatronics research circles.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

  1. Yépez-Ponce, D. F., Salcedo, J. V., Rosero-Montalvo, P. D., & Sanchis, J. (2023). Mobile robotics in smart farming: Current trends and applications. Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence, 6, 1213330.
    Citations: 99

  2. Ponce, H. M. Y., & Yépez-Ponce, D. F. (2020). Control de modo deslizante para microrredes: Una revisión. Investigación Tecnológica IST Central Técnico, 2(1), 14–14.
    Citations: 5

  3. Yépez Ponce, D. F., & Montalvo López, W. M. (2021). Development of a hybrid optimization strategy based on a bacterial foraging algorithm (BFA) and a particle swarming algorithm (PSO) to tune the PID controller of a ball and plate system. In XV Multidisciplinary International Congress on Science and Technology (pp. 15–29).
    Citations: 3

  4. Yépez-Ponce, D. F., Montalvo, W., Guamán-Gavilanes, X. A., & Echeverría-Cadena, M. D. (2025). Route optimization for UGVs: A systematic analysis of applications, algorithms and challenges. Applied Sciences, 15(12), 6477.
    Citations: 2

  5. Yépez Ponce, H. M., Yépez Ponce, D. F., Proaño Lapuerta, E. A., Mosquera Bone, C. E., & Alarcón Angulo, M. L. (2022). Open-source platform for development of taximeters: Adjustment software. In International Conference on Applied Technologies (pp. 532–544).
    Citations: 1

 

Zhaoxia Duan | Robotics and Automation | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zhaoxia Duan | Robotics and Automation | Best Researcher Award

Associate Professor | Hohai University | China

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zhaoxia Duan is a distinguished researcher whose academic journey began with a B.Sc. in Automation (2007-2011) and a Ph.D. in Control Science and Engineering (2011-2017) from Nanjing University of Science and Technology, including a visiting research fellowship at Shibaura University of Technology in Japan (2013-2014). Currently a tenured associate professor at the School of Artificial Intelligence and Automation, Hohai University, she earlier served as a lecturer in the College of Energy and Electrical Engineering (2017-2023) and has also been a postdoctoral researcher at the School of Mathematics, Southeast University since 2019. Her research interests encompass multi-agent network systems, path planning for robots and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), multi-dimensional / 2D system theory and applications, switching system theory, and positive system theory; she has developed strong research skills in stability analysis, finite-frequency control, fuzzy hybrid system modeling, fault detection observers, optimization via machine-learning (e.g. multi-objective PSO + Q-learning), and observer/controller synthesis for 2D positive / Markov jump / delayed / hybrid systems. Over her career, she has led multiple funded projects including national, postdoctoral, and central university grants, supervised research, and contributed to theoretical advances in control and automation. Her publication record is robust, with over 30+ journal articles, two authorized invention patents, and the compilation of a university textbook. She has been recognized with numerous awards and honors such as teaching excellence, thesis supervision awards, lecture competition prizes, and reviewer excellence. According to Scopus metrics, she has authored approximately 64 documents, has received around 710 citations, and has an h-index of 17. In conclusion, Dr. Duan is a well-rounded scholar who bridges rigorous theoretical research with practical intelligent automation applications, and continues to make impactful contributions to control theory, robotics and multi-agent systems.

Profile: Scopus 

Featured Publications

Duan, Z., Zhang, Y., Xu, Z., & Xiang, Z. (2025). Path planning problem in rough terrain by multi-objective PSO algorithm combined with Q-learning and crossover operator. Applied Soft Computing Journal, 184, 113798.

Duan, Z., Fu, Y., Wang, R., & Xiang, Z. (2025). l₁-gain control for delayed 2-D Markov jump positive systems in the Fornasini–Marchesini model. Journal of the Franklin Institute, 362(13), 107907.

Duan, Z., Zhang, Y., Wang, R., Xu, Z., & Xiang, Z. (2025). Robot path planning in rough terrain based on multi-objective crossover-mutation particle swarm optimization. Evolutionary Intelligence, 18, 64.

Duan, Z., Shao, Z., & Xiang, Z. (2025). A collaborative command and allocation model for manned and unmanned maritime forces. Journal of Army Engineering University of PLA, 3(4), 98–104. (In Chinese).

Duan, Z., Chu, C., Ghous, I., & Xiang, Z. (2024). On the l∞-gain of 2-D positive Roesser systems with bounded time-varying delays. Journal of the Franklin Institute, 361, 106819.