Yichen (James) Zhao

Yichen (James) Zhao

Yichen (James) Zhao is a third year PhD student studying Robotics and Mathematics in the Georgia Institute of Technology. His research interests include perception and motion planning, dynamical systems, distributed optimization, non-convex optimization, Riemannian optimization, Morse theory, sheaf theory, and algebraic topology.

CV

Education

Ph.D. in Robotics — Minor in Mathematics
Georgia Institute of Technology
2023 – 2028 (expected)
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering — Minor in Physics
University of Florida
2019 – 2023

Research Experience

Spring 2026 – Present
Research Assistant — IVALab
Georgia Institute of Technology
Supervisor: Dr. Patricio Vela  ·  Robotics & Applied Mathematics research
Spring 2024 – Spring 2026
Research Assistant — CORE Lab
Georgia Institute of Technology
Supervisor: Dr. Matthew Hale  ·  Robotics & Applied Mathematics research
Spring 2022 – Fall 2023
Research Assistant
University of Florida
Supervisor: Dr. Matthew Hale  ·  Robotics & Applied Mathematics research

Teaching Experience

Fall 2021 – Fall 2023
Teaching Assistant
University of Florida  ·  Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Held office hours, graded homework and exams across 7 courses
Supervisors: Dr. Johnathan Brooks, Dr. Scott Banks, Dr. Shannon Ridgeway, Dr. Daniel Dickrell, Dr. Ashok Kumar, Dr. Carl Crane

Skills

Programming Languages
C / C++ Python MATLAB Java LABVIEW
Frameworks & Tools
ROS2 OpenCV micro-ROS MicroPython Linux
Languages
English (Native) Chinese (Native) Japanese (Elementary)

Publications

STAR-Filter: Efficient Convex Free-Space Approximation via Starshaped Set Filtering in Noisy Environments
Yuwei Wu, Yichen Zhao, Dexter Ong, and Vijay Kumar (2026). "Star-filter: Efficient convex free-space approximation via starshaped set filtering in noisy environments."arXiv preprint arXiv:2604.26626.
Accepted · WAFR 2026
Asynchronous Nonlinear Sheaf Diffusion for Multi-Agent Coordination
Yichen Zhao*, Tyler Hanks*, Hans Riess*, Samuel Cohen, Matthew Hale, and James Fairbanks (2025). "Asynchronous Nonlinear Sheaf Diffusion for Multi-Agent Coordination." arXiv preprint arXiv:2510.00270. *Equal contribution.
arXiv · Accepted to ACC 2026
Predicting Chaotic System Behavior Using Machine Learning Techniques
Huaiyuan Rao, Yichen Zhao, Hsuan-Pin Chen (2025). "Predicting Chaotic System Behavior Using Machine Learning Techniques." Nonlinear Science and Control Engineering vol. 1, num. 1.
Nonlinear Science and Control Engineering, Vol. 1
Options Matter: Accelerating Multi-Robot Navigation via Changing Safety Filters
In preparation, authors: Yichen Zhao and Ellie Pond and Sean Wilson and Matthew Hale.
In Preparation
A Distributed Asynchronous Generalized Momentum Algorithm Without Delay Bounds
Ellie Pond*, Yichen Zhao*, and Matthew Hale (2025). "A Distributed Asynchronous Generalized Momentum Algorithm Without Delay Bounds." arXiv preprint arXiv:2508.08218. *Equal contribution.
arXiv · Submitted to IEEE TCNS

Talks

Control and Optimization in Multi-agent Systems: A Trilogy
Pennovation Center  ·  Philadelphia, PA
March 2026
Reactive Swarm Control for Unpredictable Environments
Office of Naval Research (ONR) Program Review (Remote)  ·  Atlanta, GA
April 2025

Teaching

Control of Mechanical Engineering Systems EML4312
Undergraduate course  ·  University of Florida, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department
2023
Dynamics and Controls Laboratory EML4314C
Undergraduate course  ·  University of Florida, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department
2023
Numerical Method EGM3344
Undergraduate course  ·  University of Florida, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department
2023

Service & Leadership

Guitarist
Victory Church  ·  2019–2023
Westminster Christian Fellowship  ·  2023–present
American Football Player
Chinese National Football League (CNFL)  ·  2016–2019