Staff profile

Background

Dr. Hu is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Computer Science at Durham University and a Fellow of Durham Energy Institute. Before joining Durham University, he was a Lecturer at University College London and a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Manchester. His research interests include swarm intelligence, multi-agent systems, cooperative path planning, distributed learning and control, with applications to autonomous vehicles and intelligent robotics.

Dr. Hu is a Senior Member of IEEE and a Fellow of Higher Education Academy. He served as an Associate Editor for leading international journals in the field of robotics and artificial intelligence, including IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (RA-L). He is a Conference Editorial Board member for IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), IEEE International Conference on Automation Science and Engineering (CASE), and IEEE Conference on Control Technology and Applications (CCTA).

Dr. Hu has been actively involved in many academic activities. He is a member of IEEE-CSS Technical Committee on Networks and Communication Systems, IEEE-RAS Technical Committee on Multi-Robot Systems, and IFAC Technical Committee on Large-Scale Complex Systems. He is also a member of EPSRC Peer Review College. 

 

PhD Opportunities

Outstanding graduate students wishing to read for a PhD degree in Robotics are encouraged to apply. The candidate should have strong interests and backgrounds in robotics, artificial intelligence, control systems, or mechatronics. In the first instance, please email your CV, cover letter, and transcripts to Dr. Hu.

• Autonomous Vehicles
• Distributed Networks
• Intelligent Control
• Multi-Agent Systems
• Swarm Robotics

Conference Paper

• Synergistic Reinforcement Learning Models for Pedestrian-Friendly Traffic Signal Control
  
  Chen, D., Hu, J., Zhang, H., & Chen, B. (in press). Synergistic Reinforcement Learning Models for Pedestrian-Friendly Traffic Signal Control. Presented at 2025 European Control Conference (ECC), Thessaloniki, Greece.
• Decentralized Autonomous Navigation of Large-Scale Robotic Swarms with Control Barrier Functions
  
  Pan, H., Wang, H., Arvin, F., & Hu, J. (in press). Decentralized Autonomous Navigation of Large-Scale Robotic Swarms with Control Barrier Functions. In Proceedings of the 2025 IFAC Symposium on Robotics.
• Deep Reinforcement Learning for Overtaking Decision-Making and Planning of Autonomous Vehicles
  
  Aihaiti, A., Arvin, F., & Hu, J. (2025). Deep Reinforcement Learning for Overtaking Decision-Making and Planning of Autonomous Vehicles. In 2025 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology (ICIT). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICIT63637.2025.10965305
• A Real-Time RRT-APF Approach for Efficient Multi-Robot Navigation in Complex Environments
  
  Zhang, K., Zahmatkesh, M., Stefanec, M., Arvin, F., & Hu, J. (2025, April 22). A Real-Time RRT-APF Approach for Efficient Multi-Robot Navigation in Complex Environments. Presented at 2025 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology, China. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICIT63637.2025.10965231
• Predator-Prey Q-Learning Based Collaborative Coverage Path Planning for Swarm Robotics
  
  Watson, M., Ren, H., Arvin, F., & Hu, J. (2025). Predator-Prey Q-Learning Based Collaborative Coverage Path Planning for Swarm Robotics. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 15052 LNAI, 320-332. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-72062-8_28
• Online Multi-Robot Coverage Path Planning in Dynamic Environments Through Pheromone-Based Reinforcement Learning
  
  Champagnie, K., Chen, B., Arvin, F., & Hu, J. (2024). Online Multi-Robot Coverage Path Planning in Dynamic Environments Through Pheromone-Based Reinforcement Learning. In 2024 IEEE International Conference on Automation Science and Engineering (CASE) (pp. 1000-1005). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/CASE59546.2024.10711550
• A Multi-Agent Path Planning Strategy with Reconfigurable Topology in Unknown Environments
  
  Sun, H., Hu, J., Dai, L., & Chen, B. (2024). A Multi-Agent Path Planning Strategy with Reconfigurable Topology in Unknown Environments. In 2024 IEEE International Conference on Automation Science and Engineering (CASE) (pp. 2223-2228). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/CASE59546.2024.10711600
• RRT*-Based Leader-Follower Trajectory Planning and Tracking in Multi-Agent Systems
  
  Agachi, C., Arvin, F., & Hu, J. (2024). RRT*-Based Leader-Follower Trajectory Planning and Tracking in Multi-Agent Systems. In 2024 IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Systems (IS) (pp. 1-6). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/IS61756.2024.10705259
• Decentralized Multi-Agent Coverage Path Planning with Greedy Entropy Maximization
  
  Champagnie, K., Arvin, F., & Hu, J. (2024). Decentralized Multi-Agent Coverage Path Planning with Greedy Entropy Maximization. In 2024 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology (ICIT). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICIT58233.2024.10540869
• Distributed Bearing-Only Formation Control for Heterogeneous Nonlinear Multi-Robot Systems
  
  Wu, K., Hu, J., Ding, Z., & Arvin, F. (2023). Distributed Bearing-Only Formation Control for Heterogeneous Nonlinear Multi-Robot Systems. In H. Ishii, Y. Ebihara, J.- ichi Imura, & M. Yamakita (Eds.), 22nd IFAC World Congress (pp. 3447-3452). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2023.10.1496
• Mixed Controller Design for Multi-Vehicle Formation Based on Edge and Bearing Measurements
  
  Wu, K., Hu, J., Lennox, B., & Arvin, F. (2022). Mixed Controller Design for Multi-Vehicle Formation Based on Edge and Bearing Measurements. In 2022 European Control Conference (ECC). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.23919/ecc55457.2022.9838436
• Omnipotent Virtual Giant for Remote Human–Swarm Interaction
  
  Jang, I., Hu, J., Arvin, F., Carrasco, J., & Lennox, B. (2021). Omnipotent Virtual Giant for Remote Human–Swarm Interaction. Presented at 2021 30th IEEE International Conference on Robot & Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN), Vancouver, BC, Canada. https://doi.org/10.1109/ro-man50785.2021.9515542

Journal Article

• T-STAR: Time-Optimal Swarm Trajectory Planning for Quadrotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  
  Pan, H., Zahmatkesh, M., Rekabi-Bana, F., Arvin, F., & Hu, J. (2025). T-STAR: Time-Optimal Swarm Trajectory Planning for Quadrotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1109/TITS.2025.3557783
• Distributed Collision-Free Bearing Coordination of Multi-UAV Systems With Actuator Faults and Time Delays
  
  Wu, K., Hu, J., Li, Z., Ding, Z., & Arvin, F. (2024). Distributed Collision-Free Bearing Coordination of Multi-UAV Systems With Actuator Faults and Time Delays. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 25(9), 11768-11781. https://doi.org/10.1109/tits.2024.3364356
• Finite-Time Fault-Tolerant Formation Control for Distributed Multi-Vehicle Networks With Bearing Measurements
  
  Wu, K., Hu, J., Ding, Z., & Arvin, F. (2024). Finite-Time Fault-Tolerant Formation Control for Distributed Multi-Vehicle Networks With Bearing Measurements. IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering, 21(2), 1346-1357. https://doi.org/10.1109/tase.2023.3239748
• Unified Robust Path Planning and Optimal Trajectory Generation for Efficient 3D Area Coverage of Quadrotor UAVs
  
  Rekabi-Bana, F., Hu, J., Krajník, T., & Arvin, F. (2024). Unified Robust Path Planning and Optimal Trajectory Generation for Efficient 3D Area Coverage of Quadrotor UAVs. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 25(3), 2492-2507. https://doi.org/10.1109/tits.2023.3320049
• Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control for Connected Autonomous Vehicles using Spring Damping Energy Model
  
  Xie, S., Hu, J., Ding, Z., & Arvin, F. (2023). Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control for Connected Autonomous Vehicles using Spring Damping Energy Model. IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, 72(3), 2974-2987. https://doi.org/10.1109/tvt.2022.3218575
• Distributed Motion Planning for Safe Autonomous Vehicle Overtaking via Artificial Potential Field
  
  Xie, S., Hu, J., Bhowmick, P., Ding, Z., & Arvin, F. (2022). Distributed Motion Planning for Safe Autonomous Vehicle Overtaking via Artificial Potential Field. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 23(11), 21531-21547. https://doi.org/10.1109/tits.2022.3189741
• Robust formation control for networked robotic systems using Negative Imaginary dynamics
  
  Hu, J., Lennox, B., & Arvin, F. (2022). Robust formation control for networked robotic systems using Negative Imaginary dynamics. Automatica, 140, Article 110235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.automatica.2022.110235
• Fault-tolerant cooperative navigation of networked UAV swarms for forest fire monitoring
  
  Hu, J., Niu, H., Carrasco, J., Lennox, B., & Arvin, F. (2022). Fault-tolerant cooperative navigation of networked UAV swarms for forest fire monitoring. Aerospace Science and Technology, 123, Article 107494. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ast.2022.107494
• Robust Formation Coordination of Robot Swarms With Nonlinear Dynamics and Unknown Disturbances: Design and Experiments
  
  Hu, J., Turgut, A. E., Lennox, B., & Arvin, F. (2022). Robust Formation Coordination of Robot Swarms With Nonlinear Dynamics and Unknown Disturbances: Design and Experiments. IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems II: Express Briefs, 69(1), 114-118. https://doi.org/10.1109/tcsii.2021.3074705
• Self-Organised Collision-Free Flocking Mechanism in Heterogeneous Robot Swarms
  
  Ban, Z., Hu, J., Lennox, B., & Arvin, F. (2021). Self-Organised Collision-Free Flocking Mechanism in Heterogeneous Robot Swarms. Mobile Networks and Applications, 26(6), 2461–2471. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11036-021-01785-7
• A Decentralized Cluster Formation Containment Framework for Multirobot Systems
  
  Hu, J., Bhowmick, P., Jang, I., Arvin, F., & Lanzon, A. (2021). A Decentralized Cluster Formation Containment Framework for Multirobot Systems. IEEE Transactions on Robotics, 37(6), 1936-1955. https://doi.org/10.1109/tro.2021.3071615
• Finite-Time Bearing-Only Formation Tracking of Heterogeneous Mobile Robots With Collision Avoidance
  
  Wu, K., Hu, J., Lennox, B., & Arvin, F. (2021). Finite-Time Bearing-Only Formation Tracking of Heterogeneous Mobile Robots With Collision Avoidance. IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems II: Express Briefs, 68(10), 3316-3320. https://doi.org/10.1109/tcsii.2021.3066555
• SDP-Based Robust Formation-Containment Coordination of Swarm Robotic Systems with Input Saturation
  
  Wu, K., Hu, J., Lennox, B., & Arvin, F. (2021). SDP-Based Robust Formation-Containment Coordination of Swarm Robotic Systems with Input Saturation. Journal of Intelligent & Robotic Systems, 102(1), Article 12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10846-021-01368-4
• Occlusion-Based Coordination Protocol Design for Autonomous Robotic Shepherding Tasks
  
  Hu, J., Turgut, A. E., Krajnik, T., Lennox, B., & Arvin, F. (2020). Occlusion-Based Coordination Protocol Design for Autonomous Robotic Shepherding Tasks. IEEE Transactions on Cognitive and Developmental Systems, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1109/tcds.2020.3018549