Contact Dr Boyu Kuang
- Email: Neil.Kuang@cranfield.ac.uk
- Twitter: @BoyuKuang
- ORCID
- Google Scholar
- ResearchGate
Areas of expertise
- Aerospace Manufacturing
- Carbon, Climate and Risk
- Computing, Simulation & Modelling
- Engines, Powertrains & Alternative Fuels
- Industrial Automation
- Instrumentation, Sensors and Measurement Science
- Process Systems Engineering
Background
Dr. Boyu Kuang is an IEEE member. He received degrees a B.E. in aircraft propulsion engineering from the Civil Aviation University of China, Tianjin, China, an M.Sc. in thermal power, and a Ph.D. in computer vision from Cranfield University, U.K., in 2014, 2017, and 2022, respectively.
Boyu currently works as a research fellow in computer vision and AI for a UKRI, ATI, and Airbus-funded project (ONEHeart) entitled Autonomous Aircraft Ground Refuelling (AAGR) project at the Center of Computational Engineering Science (CES) at Cranfield University. Boyu has participated in 18 publications as a 1st, co-1st, or corresponding author since his first publication in 2020 fall (13 are journals; 6 are archived in JCR-Q1 journals; the top two 3 have impact factors 16+, 19+, and 8+). He is identified as a professional reviewer for prestigious journals or conferences, e.g., IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics (TIE), Elsevier Expert Systems with Applications (ESWA), Elsevier Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence (EAAI), etc. His research interests include but are not limited to deep learning, weak/self-supervised learning, multiple domain adaption (MDA), computer/machine vision, image processing, signal processing, data generation, robotics, aeronautics, and digital twin applications. Boyu's experience involves semantic segmentation, target detection, pattern recognition, image generation, 3D reconstruction, industrial cybernetics, and image crawling.
Research opportunities
1. Image Segmentation for Planetary Exploration:
- Developed an advanced U-Net++ segmentation network tailored for unstructured space environments, incorporating weak supervision-based annotation methods and transfer learning frameworks.
- Innovated a conservative annotation algorithm to optimize weak supervision strategies.
- Engineered a synthetic data algorithm for generating precise visual data in specific scenarios.
- Achievements: Authored 3 journal papers and presented 2 papers at international conferences.
2. 3D Reconstruction for Aircraft Wing Analysis:
- Implemented a sophisticated Pose Estimation and Reconstruction process using multi-view geometry.
- Employed Mask-R-CNN for image segmentation, significantly improving pose estimation and reconstruction accuracy.
- Utilized VisualSFM, PMVS, and Blender to create detailed point clouds and 3D meshes.
- Achievement: Published 1 conference paper, with 1 journal paper currently in process.
3. Pattern Recognition in Low Signal-to-noise Environments:
- Devised a twin-window-based augmentation algorithm to mitigate data scarcity in experimental sciences.
- Created a PSD-based 2D encoding algorithm and an FCN-based classifier, enhancing data readability and robustness.
- Explored Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) for data generation in scientific research.
- Developed an FCN-based learning feature integrated with CNN and RNN, achieving over 98% accuracy.
- Implemented a self-supervised learning approach for addressing practical engineering challenges.
- Achievements: Contributed to 6 journal papers.
Current activities
1. Airbus ONEHeart project: Autonomous aircraft ground refuelling (AAGR)
The project aims to implement the autonomous aircraft ground refuelling solution for Airbus commercial aircraft using computer vision, robotics, artificial intelligence, information fusion, and sensor technology.
2. Image semantic segmentation:
The project works on the one-stage semantic segmentation based on the synthetic data and generative model. The study aims to improve segmentation accuracy and maintain real-time efficiency.
3. 3D reconstruction:
The project conducts the 3D reconstruction using dense optical flow and space smoothness concepts. The study can improve the performance of the visual-SLAM, digital twin, and Industry 4.0.
4. Image data mining:
This is an image classification, data crawling, and active learning combined project, which aims to build an automatic system to configure most of the image classification dataset for further study.
5. Multiphase flow regime identification:
The project uses neural networks, an ultrasonic sensor, and a practical riser testbed to identify the multiphase flow regime. The study has achieved more than ten publications in prestigious journals, two of which are achieved by top journals with impact factors of 16+ and 19+.
6. Medical image processing:
This project works on medical image processing using Multi-Domain Adaptation (MDA) and transfer learning.
Clients
- Airbus SE
- Renault SA
- BAE Systems PLC
- Turkish Aerospace Industries
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Kuang B, Nnabuife SG, Whidborne JF, Sun S, Zhao J, .... (2024). Self-supervised learning-based two-phase flow regime identification using ultrasonic sensors in an S-shape riser. Expert Systems with Applications, 236(February)
- Sun S, Huang Z, Kang J, Sun X, Kuang B, .... (2024). Study of the influence of multiple factors on the boundary layer of a high-lift LPT with the RBF-GA method. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 238(1)
- Nnabuife SG, Kuang B, Whidborne JF & Rana ZA. (2023). Development of Gas–Liquid Flow Regimes Identification Using a Noninvasive Ultrasonic Sensor, Belt-Shape Features, and Convolutional Neural Network in an S-Shaped Riser. IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics, 53(1)
- Nnabuife SG, Oko E, Kuang B, Bello A, Onwualu AP, .... (2023). The prospects of hydrogen in achieving net zero emissions by 2050: A critical review. Sustainable Chemistry for Climate Action, 2
- Nnabuife SG, Darko CK, Obiako PC, Kuang B, Sun X, .... (2023). A Comparative Analysis of Different Hydrogen Production Methods and Their Environmental Impact. Clean Technologies, 5(4)
- Kuang B, Gu C, Rana ZA, Zhao Y, Sun S, .... (2022). Semantic Terrain Segmentation in the Navigation Vision of Planetary Rovers—A Systematic Literature Review. Sensors, 22(21)
- Nnabuife SG, Kuang B, Rana ZA & Whidborne J. (2022). Classification of flow regimes using a neural network and a non-invasive ultrasonic sensor in an S-shaped pipeline-riser system. Chemical Engineering Journal Advances, 9(March)
- Anika OC, Nnabuife SG, Bello A, Okoroafor ER, Kuang B, .... (2022). Prospects of low and zero-carbon renewable fuels in 1.5-degree net zero emission actualisation by 2050: A critical review. Carbon Capture Science & Technology, 5(December)
- Kuang B, Nnabuife SG, Sun S, Whidborne JF & Rana ZA. (2022). Gas-liquid flow regimes identification using non-intrusive Doppler ultrasonic sensor and convolutional recurrent neural networks in an s-shaped riser. Digital Chemical Engineering, 2(March)
- Boyu K, Yuheng C & Zeeshan A R. (2022). OG-SLAM: A real-time and high-accurate monocular visual SLAM framework. Trends in Computer Science and Information Technology, 7(2)
- Were S, Nnabuife SG & Kuang B. (2022). A Computational Fluid Dynamics Study of Flared Gas for Enhanced Oil Recovery Using a Micromodel. AppliedMath, 2(4)
- Godfrey Nnabuife S, Kuang B, Whidborne JF & Rana Z. (2021). Non-intrusive classification of gas-liquid flow regimes in an S-shaped pipeline riser using a Doppler ultrasonic sensor and deep neural networks. Chemical Engineering Journal, 403
- Kuang B, Rana ZA & Zhao Y. (2021). Sky and Ground Segmentation in the Navigation Visions of the Planetary Rovers. Sensors, 21(21)
- Kuang B, Nnabuife SG & Rana Z. (2021). Pseudo-image-feature-based identification benchmark for multi-phase flow regimes. Chemical Engineering Journal Advances, 5
- Kuang B, Wisniewski M, Rana ZA & Zhao Y. (2021). Rock Segmentation in the Navigation Vision of the Planetary Rovers. Mathematics, 9(23)