Lecture 20 for the Mechanical Science and Engineering Development Forum—Professor Dan Zhang from University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Canada delivered a speech in Yuquan campus, Zhejiang University on November 25, 2011. The topic of his speech was ‘Research Activities in Parallel Robotic Machines’. Professor Xin Fu, Associate Dean of ME Dep., and more than 100 teachers and students participated in the forum.
In this lecture, Prof. Dan Zhang explained the basic concepts about serial robot, parallel robot and parallel kinematic machines (PKMs). Then he illustrated the features of serial robots and parallel robots respectively and conducted a creative thought about a new kind of parallel robot which combines the advantages of both serial and parallel robots, which was Prof. Zhang’s research field.
From Prof. Zhang’s novel and inspiring lecture, we start to figure out that creativity usually derives from cross-discipline subjects and our own imagination. Hence, to be a real talent that fits in the current society, we need to listen to the outside world and try to broaden our sight with the spirit of creation and reality.
In the end, Professor Fu expressed the gratitude on behalf of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the forum ended afterwards.