Aaron Hao Tan

I am a Ph.D. candidate, advised by Dr. Goldie Nejat, at the University of Toronto Robotics Institute, where I work on giving robot teams the ability to anticipate the world via deep MARL, and generative AI.

I was recently nominated by the University of Toronto as a PhD Apple Scholar in AI/ML, 2023 (1 of 3 university wide). During my internship at General Motors, I worked on rider sweat prediction for the ARIV E-Bike project.

In my free time, I am building Syncere AI with Angus Fung, a foundation model that makes consumer robots human.

Updated: June 2024

Email  /  CV  /  Resume  /  Google Scholar

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Primary AI/Robotics Research

I have worked on the entire mobile robotics stack from novel hardware design, to multi-robot perception and control.

4CNet: A Confidence-Aware, Contrastive, Conditional, Consistency Model for Robot Map Prediction in Multi-Robot Environments
Aaron Hao Tan, Siddarth Narasimhan, Goldie Nejat
arXiv (Submitted), 2024
Paper / Video

We present a novel robot exploration map prediction method called Confidence-Aware Contrastive Conditional Consistency Model (4CNet), to predict (foresee) unknown spatial configurations in unknown unstructured multi- robot environments with irregularly shaped obstacles.

NavFormer: A Transformer Architecture for Robot Target-Driven Navigation in Unknown and Dynamic Environments
Haitong Wang, Aaron Hao Tan, Goldie Nejat
IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, 2024
Paper / Video

We propose NavFormer, a novel end-to-end DL architecture consisting of a dual-visual encoder module and a transformer-based navigation network to address for the first time the problem of TDN in unknown and dynamic environments.

Deep Reinforcement Learning for Decentralized Multi-Robot Exploration with Macro Actions
Aaron Hao Tan, Federico Pizzaro Bejarano, Yuhan Zhu, Richard Ren, Goldie Nejat
IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters + ICRA, 2023
Paper / Video / Talk / Poster

The first Macro Action Decentralized Exploration Network (MADE-Net) using multi-agent deep reinforcement learning to address the challenges of communication dropouts during multi-robot exploration in unseen, unstructured, and cluttered environments.

Enhancing Robot Task Completion Through Environment and Task Inference: A Survey from the Mobile Robot Perspective
Aaron Hao Tan, Goldie Nejat
Journal of Intelligent and Robotic Systems, 2022
Paper

The first extensive investigation of mobile robot inference problems in unknown environments with limited sensor and communication range and propose a new taxonomy to classify the different environment and task inference methods for single- and multi-robot systems.

A Sim-to-Real Pipeline for Deep Reinforcement Learning for Autonomous Robot Navigation in Cluttered Rough Terrain
Han Hu, Kaicheng Zhang, Aaron Hao Tan, Michael Ruan, Christopher Agia, Goldie Nejat
IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters + IROS, 2021  
Paper / Talk / Video / Baseline Demo

The development of a novel sim-to-real pipeline for a mobile robot to effectively learn how to navigate real-world 3D rough terrain environments.

Design and development of a novel autonomous scaled multiwheeled vehicle
Aaron Hao Tan, Michael Peiris, Moustafa El-Gindy, Haoxiang Lang
Robotica, 2021  
ASME IDETC/CIE, 2019  
Journal (Access) / Conference (Access) / Slides / Video

A 1:6 scale, multi-wheeled mobile robotic platform with independent suspension, steering and actuation for off-terrain operations.

Research Collaborations
Piezoresistive Sensors Array for Multijoint Motion Estimation Application
Zinan Cen, Fraser Robinson, Goldie Nejat, Hani E. Naguib
Aaron Hao Tan (Acknowledged)
IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, 2024  
Paper

I was acknowledged in the development of a smart clothing system using low-cost, energy-efficient strain sensors to measure elbow and shoulder joint angles. A novel neural network architecture was used to enhance the accuracy of the sensor signal mapping.

Robust Face Mask Detection by a Socially Assistive Robot Using Deep Learning
Yuan Zhang, Meysam Effati, Aaron Hao Tan, Goldie Nejat
Computers, 2024  
Paper

We propose a novel two-step deep learning (DL) method based on our extended ResNet-50 model. It can detect and classify whether face masks are missing, are worn correctly or incorrectly, or the face is covered by other means (e.g., a hand or hair).

Development of a Pillow Placement Process for Robotic Bed-Making
Chi-Hong Cheung, Aaron Hao Tan, Andrew Goldenberg
IEEE/ASME MESA, 2023  
Paper (Access)

We propose a novel process for a 6-DOF static one-armed robotic manipulator to address the challenges of pillow placement on a small-scale bed.

Deep Learning Model to Identify Homonymous Defects on Automated Perimetry
Aaron Hao Tan, Laura Donaldson, Luqmaan Moolla, Austin Pereira, Edward Margolin
British Journal of Ophthalmology, 2022  
Paper / Slide (NANOS 2022)

The first application of deep learning to the classification of homonymous defects on automated perimetry.

Jeeves, the Ethically Designed Interface
Aaron Hao Tan, Angus Fung, Michael Pham-Hung, Cristina Getson
RO-MAN: Roboethics Competition, 2021  
Talk

A competition designed to answer: how can robots respond and interact in an ethical manner when delivery objects within a domestic setting? Placed First.

Image and Position based Visual Servoing (Mobile Robot and Manipulator)
Aaron Hao Tan
ASME IDETC/CIE, 2018  
IEEE CIVEMSA , 2018  
Papers: Image Based / Position Based / Docking
Videos: UR5 / Docking

Implemented image and position-based visual servoing on a Clearpath Husky and UR5 Manipulator.

Recognition/Scholarships/Grants/Awards
2024: Conference on Robot Learning (Reviewer Invitation)
2024: LocalHost Fellowship (Acceptance)
2024: Teaching Excellence Award (Nominated)
2023: Microsoft Startup Hub Program ($150k)
2023: Ontario Graduate Scholarship - University of Toronto ($15k)
2022: William Dunbar Memorial Scholarship - University of Toronto ($6k)
2022: Apple AI/ML Scholar Nominee - University of Toronto (1 of 3 selected across the entire university)
2022: Ontario Graduate Scholarship - University of Toronto ($15k)
2022: MIE Teaching Assistant Award - University of Toronto ($500)
2022: DiDi Graduate Awards - University of Toronto ($10k)
2022: COS: Awards of Excellence in Ophthalmic Research - 2nd Place Collaborator
2021: IEEE RO-MAN: The Roboethics Competition, McGill University - 1st Place ($1k)
2021: IROS: Outstanding Service as Chair of Technical Session
2021: Best Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences Research Day Paper - University of Toronto
2020: COVID-19 ...
2019: Outstanding Thesis Award Nomination - Ontario Tech University (MASc)
2018: FEAS Graduate Scholarship - Ontario Tech University ($5k)
2018: Appeared in an international documentary commisssioned by Korean Broadcasting System
2017: Capstone project video commissioned by Ontario Tech University for future students
2017: 1st Place Senior Engineering Design Competition - Ontario Tech University ($500)
2017: Team GM Recognition Award
2016: General Motors Assembly Plant Award ($2.5k)
2016: NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards ($8.6k)
2012-2017: President's List
Teachings
2024 S: MIE1070: Intelligent Robots for Society Head TA, University of Toronto
2024 W: MIE443: Mechatronics Systems: Design & Integration Head TA, University of Toronto
2023 F: ROB301: Introduction to Robotics Tutorial TA, University of Toronto
2023 S: MIE1070: Intelligent Robots for Society Head TA, University of Toronto
2023 W: MIE443: Mechatronics Systems: Design & Integration Tutorial TA, University of Toronto
2022 F: ECE1724: Bio-inspired Algorithms for Smart Mobility, University of Toronto
2022 F: ROB301: Introduction to Robotics Tutorial TA, University of Toronto
2022 S: MIE1070: Intelligent Robots for Society Head TA, University of Toronto
2022 W: MIE443: Mechatronics Systems: Design & Integration Tutorial TA, University of Toronto (Course Eval./Certificate)
2022 W: ENH610: Parasitology and Pest Control Lab TA, Toronto Metropolitan University
2021 W: MIE443: Mechatronics Systems: Design & Integration Tutorial TA, University of Toronto
2020 W: MIE443: Mechatronics Systems: Design & Integration Lab TA, University of Toronto
2019 W: MECE3390U: Mechatronics Head TA, Ontario Tech University
2018 F: MECE2230U: Statics Head TA, Ontario Tech University
2018 W: MECE3390U: Mechatronics Head TA, Ontario Tech University (Course Eval.)
2017 F: MECE3350U Control Systems Head TA, Ontario Tech University (Course Eval.)
Mentoring
2024-2025: Master of Engineering Student: Sourabh Prasad, Currently working on Cross Embodiment Navigation
2023-2024: Undergraduate Thesis Student: Daniel Choi (Thesis), Currently MASc Student at MIE UofT
2022-2023: Master of Engineering Student: Yuhan Zhu , Currently PhD Student at University of California, Riverside
2022-2023: Master of Engineering Student: Haitong Wang , Currently PhD Student at UofT
2022-2023: Undergraduate Thesis Student: Grace Bae (Thesis)
2022-2023: Undergraduate Thesis Student: Yuntao Cai, (Thesis), Currently MASc Student at ECE UofT
2022-2023: Undergraduate Thesis Student: Siddarth Narasimhan (Thesis), Currently MASc Student at MIE UofT
2021-2023: Master of Applied Science Student: Fraser Robinson (Thesis), Currently at Revolve Surgical (YC S21)
2021-2022: Undergraduate Thesis Student: Yuhan Zhu (Thesis), Currently PhD Student at University of California, Riverside
2021-2022: Undergraduate Thesis Student: Richard Ren (Thesis), Currently Software Engineer at Amazon
2021-2022: Undergraduate Thesis Student: Giro Ele (Thesis)
2020-2021: Undergraduate Thesis Student: Federico Pizzaro Bejarano (Thesis), Currently PhD Student at UofT
2020-2021: Undergraduate Thesis Student: Ge Lin (Thesis) , Currently M.Eng at McGill University
Academic Services
2020-Present: Reviewer for RA-L, ICRA, CoRL, IROS, RSS, JIRS, Machine Learning, Scientific Reports
Extracurricular Activities
2024 S: Interview @ YCombinator w/ Angus Fung (Invite 1)
2023 F: Final Round Onsite Interview @ ERA w/ Angus Fung (Interview Day)
2023 S: Placed 3rd in the prestigious Shot on iPhone Photography Award hosted by IPPAWARDS (Picture)
2023 W: Interview @ YCombinator w/ Angus Fung (Invite 1), (Invite 2)
2023 W: Won 1st place in Toronto's competitive men's basketball league (Picture)
2022 F: Won 1st place in Toronto's competitive men's basketball league (Picture)
2022 S: Organized paintball social event for Robotics Institute at the University of Toronto (Picture)
2022 S: Won 1st place in Toronto's competitive men's basketball league (Pic 1/Pic 2)
2021 F: Won 2nd place in Toronto's recreational men's basketball league (Picture)
2019 S: Photographer and member of the Local Organization Committee for the 14th IEEE ICCSE Conference
2018 S: Featured in Apple's Shot on iPhone photography campaign (Pic 1/Pic 2)

Consumer App Projects
Scholarply
Aaron Hao Tan, Angus Fung
2023 Q3-4  
Scholarply / Article 1 / Article 2 / Newsletter / TikTok
Pitch Deck / Demo
  • Accelerating the scholarship application process via LLM agents to help students secure funding while focusing on their studies.
  • Selected by Microsoft Startup Hub Program, receiving grants worth $150k.
ONE800
Aaron Hao Tan, Angus Fung
2023 Q1-2  
ONE800 / Twitter / Instagram
Pitch Deck / Demo
  • An all-in-one service built in to iMessage aimed at lowering the barrier of entry for LLMs and Generative AI.
  • Launched multi-modal conversations with proprietary model before 4 months before GPT-4V.

Shot on iPhone
Currently in development ... for now checkout my photography portfolio on my IG

source code