Ziqiao Wang

王子乔

PhD Candidate in Robotics, EPFL

Projects

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Featured Research

Surface-Based Manipulation with Modular Foldable Robots

Using flat surfaces as minimalist end-effectors to translate, rotate, and flip objects via closed-loop control. Published in npj Robotics, 2026.

RL-trained drone landing on a flexible tree branch in simulation

Master Thesis

Learning to Land on Flexible Structures

RL-trained drone that lands on and maintains contact with flexible tree branches. PPO/SAC with domain randomization.
Dr. Emanuele Aucone, Prof. Stefano Mintchev · ETH Zurich ERL

Semester Project

Controlling the Legs of a 12t Walking Excavator Using Reinforcement Learning

A reinforcement learning locomotion controller for a 12-ton walking excavator. Trained on mixed terrain in simulation with PPO, validated on real hardware.
Dr. Pascal Egli, Dr. Julian Nubert, Prof. Marco Hutter · ETH Zurich RSL

Resume

Photo of Ziqiao Wang

I'm a full-stack roboticist. I've been a science fiction fanatic since middle school and always dreamed of making robots and launching them into space. I want to make products that enter thousands of families and make an impact on people's lives.

Education

Sep 2022 — Present

PhD Candidate

EPFL, Reconfigurable Robotics Lab — Lausanne, Switzerland

Advisor: Prof. Jamie Paik

Aug 2020 — Aug 2022

M.Sc. in Embedded Systems, Control Track

KTH Royal Institute of Technology — Stockholm, Sweden

Examiner: Prof. Dimos Dimarogonas

Sep 2021 — Aug 2022

Exchange — Environmental Robotics Lab (ERL)

ETH Zurich — Zurich, Switzerland

Master Thesis: Learning to Land on Flexible Structures
Supervisor: Dr. Emanuele Aucone, Prof. Stefano Mintchev

Sep 2021 — Feb 2022

Exchange — Robotics Systems Lab (RSL)

ETH Zurich — Zurich, Switzerland

Semester Project: Controlling a 12t Walking Excavator Using RL
Supervisor: Dr. Pascal Egli, Dr. Julian Nubert, Prof. Marco Hutter

Sep 2016 — Jul 2020

B.Eng. in Electrical Engineering & Automation

Xi'an Jiaotong University — Xi'an, China

Jul 2018 — Aug 2018

Summer Exchange — Robotics for Future Industrial Applications

RWTH Aachen University — Aachen, Germany

Awards & Patents

Aug 2019

National 1st Prize

2019 National Undergraduate Electronics Design Contest

Apr 2019

Special Prize, Shaanxi Province

"Challenge Cup" National College Student Academic Science & Technology Competition

Jun 2018

National 2nd Prize

17th ABU Asia-Pacific Robot Contest in China

Jul 2017

3rd Place + Best Technical Award

16th ABU Asia-Pacific Robot Contest in China

2019

2 Patents (1st Inventor) + 1 Software Monograph

BMS invention patent (ZL201910261973.3) · Quadrotor software (2019SR0860797)

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