Overview
Background
Dr T. Thang Vo-Doan is a Lecturer of the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering at the University of Queensland. He was a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Biology I, University of Freiburg, Germany (2019-2023). He was also a Research Fellow at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore (2016-2018). He was awarded his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, NTU in 2016. He received his M.Eng. degree in Manufacturing Engineering and B.Eng. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Vietnam in 2010 and 2008 respectively. He was awarded the prestigious Human Frontier Science Program Cross-disciplinary Fellowship (2019-2022).
He directs the UQ Biorobotics lab after joining in the University of Queensland. Current research activities of the lab focus on insect-machine hybrid robots, bio-inspired robotics, insect structures and functions, biomechanics, fast lock-on tracking, and brain imaging in untethered insects.
Availability
- Dr T. Thang Vo-Doan is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology
- Masters (Research) of Manufacturing Engineering, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology
- Doctor of Philosophy of Mechanical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University
Research interests
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Biorobotics
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Cyborg Insects
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Bio-inspired robotics
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Insect structures and functions
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Biomechanics
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Fast lock-on tracking
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Smart insect traps
Works
Search Professor T. Thang Vo-Doan’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2026
Journal Article
Bust Stimulation for Sustained Locomotion Control and Autonomous Navigation of Terrestrial Cyborg Beetles
Le, Hai Nhan, Nguyen, Huu Duoc, Fitzgerald, Lachlan, McAree, Peter Ross, Sato, Hirotaka and Vo-Doan, Tat Thang (2026). Bust Stimulation for Sustained Locomotion Control and Autonomous Navigation of Terrestrial Cyborg Beetles. Cyborg and Bionic Systems, 7 0537. doi: 10.34133/cbsystems.0537
Featured
2025
Journal Article
Zoborg: on‐demand climbing control for cyborg beetles
Fitzgerald, Lachlan, Le, H. Nhan, Wilson, Robbie S., Nguyen, H. Duoc, Do, Thanh Nho and Vo‐Doan, T. Thang (2025). Zoborg: on‐demand climbing control for cyborg beetles. Advanced Science, 12 (31) e02095, e02095. doi: 10.1002/advs.202502095
Featured
2022
Journal Article
A robotic leg inspired from an insect leg
Tran-Ngoc, P Thanh, Lim, Leslie Ziqi, Gan, Jia Hui, Wang, Hong, Vo-Doan, T. Thang and Sato, Hirotaka (2022). A robotic leg inspired from an insect leg. Bioinspiration and Biomimetics, 17 (5) 056008, 056008. doi: 10.1088/1748-3190/ac78b5
2026
Journal Article
Terrestrial Cyborg Insects for Real-Life Applications
Le, Hai Nhan, Fitzgerald, Lachlan, Phan, Phuoc Thien, Wilson, Robbie, Clemente, Christofer, Nguyen, Huu Duoc, Sato, Hirotaka, Phan, Hoang-Phuong, Mcaree, Peter Ross, Do, Thanh Nho and Vo-doan, Tat Thang (2026). Terrestrial Cyborg Insects for Real-Life Applications. Advanced Intelligent Systems e202501119. doi: 10.1002/aisy.202501119
2025
Journal Article
Modeling and characterization of a self-sensing soft hydraulic muscle
Phan, Nhu An, Dao, Phuong Linh, Vu, Duc Tu, Le, The Doan, Ngo, Sy Trung, Phan, Minh Tri, Vo-doan, T. Thang, Wu, Ke and Thai, Mai Thanh (2025). Modeling and characterization of a self-sensing soft hydraulic muscle. Advanced Intelligent Systems e202501107. doi: 10.1002/aisy.202501107
2025
Conference Publication
Zoborg: locomotion control for cyborg beetles with leg impairment
Le, H. Nhan, Fitzgerald, Lachlan, McAree, P. Ross and Vo-Doan, T. Thang (2025). Zoborg: locomotion control for cyborg beetles with leg impairment. 2025 IEEE International Conference on Cyborg and Bionic Systems (CBS), Beijing, China, 17-19 October 2025. Piscataway, NJ United States: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. doi: 10.1109/cbs65871.2025.11267725
2025
Conference Publication
Zoborg: inverted climbing control in cyborg beetles
Fitzgerald, Lachlan, Le, H. Nhan, Crowe, Camilla and Vo-Doan, T. Thang (2025). Zoborg: inverted climbing control in cyborg beetles . 2025 IEEE International Conference on Cyborg and Bionic Systems, CBS 2025, Beijing, China, 17-19 October 2025. Piscataway, NJ, United States: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. doi: 10.1109/cbs65871.2025.11267624
2025
Journal Article
3D printing of soft robotic systems: advances in fabrication strategies and future trends
Liu, Changjiang, Cui, Bin, Huang, Xumin, Zheng, Xiaoyu (Rayne), Vo‐Doan, T. Thang and Qiao, Ruirui (2025). 3D printing of soft robotic systems: advances in fabrication strategies and future trends. Advanced Robotics Research e202500076. doi: 10.1002/adrr.202500076
2025
Journal Article
Active interactions between animals and technology: biohybrid approaches for animal behaviour research
Papadopoulou, M., Ball, M., Bartashevich, P., Burns, A.L.J., Chiara, V., Clark, M.A., Costelloe, B.R., Fele, M., French, F., Hauert, S., Heinrich, M.K., Herbert-Read, J.E., Hoitt, J., Ioannou, C.C., Landgraf, T., Matchette, S.R., Polverino, G., Sankey, D.W.E., Scott, D.M., Sridhar, V.H., Strömbom, D., Trianni, V., Vo-Doan, T.T. and King, A.J. (2025). Active interactions between animals and technology: biohybrid approaches for animal behaviour research. Animal Behaviour, 224 123160. doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123160
2025
Journal Article
Development of a bio-inspired soft robotic system for teleoperated endoscopic surgery
Zhu, Kefan, Nguyen, Chi Cong, Sharma, Bibhu, Phan, Phuoc Thien, Hoang, Trung Thien, Davies, James, Ji, Adrienne, Nicotra, Emanuele, Wan, Jingjing, Pruscino, Patrick, Walia, Sumeet, Vo-Doan, Tat Thang, Phee, Soo Jay, Wong, Shing, Lovell, Nigel H. and Do, Thanh Nho (2025). Development of a bio-inspired soft robotic system for teleoperated endoscopic surgery. Cyborg and Bionic Systems, 6 0289, 1-13. doi: 10.34133/cbsystems.0289
2024
Journal Article
High-resolution outdoor videography of insects using Fast Lock-On tracking
Vo-Doan, T. Thang, Titov, Victor V., Harrap, Michael J. M., Lochner, Stephan and Straw, Andrew D. (2024). High-resolution outdoor videography of insects using Fast Lock-On tracking. Science Robotics, 9 (95) eadm7689, 1-8. doi: 10.1126/scirobotics.adm7689
2024
Journal Article
Shape programmable and multifunctional soft textile muscles for wearable and soft robotics
Hoang, Trung Thien, Nguyen, Chi Cong, Phan, Phuoc Thien, Davies, James, Tran, Hien Anh, Thai, Mai Thanh, Truong, Vi Khanh, Nguyen, Tuan-Khoa, Vo-Doan, Tat Thang, Phan, Hoang-Phuong, Lovell, Nigel Hamilton and Do, Thanh Nho (2024). Shape programmable and multifunctional soft textile muscles for wearable and soft robotics. Advanced Intelligent Systems, 6 (9) 2300875, 1-17. doi: 10.1002/aisy.202300875
2023
Journal Article
Soft wearable haptic display and flexible 3D force sensor for teleoperated surgical systems
Thai, Mai Thanh, Davies, James, Nguyen, Chi Cong, Phan, Phuoc Thien, Hoang, Trung Thien, Ji, Adrienne, Zhu, Kefan, Sharma, Bibhu, Nicotra, Emanuele, Vo‐Doan, Tat Thang, Phan, Hoang‐Phuong, Lovell, Nigel Hamilton and Do, Thanh Nho (2023). Soft wearable haptic display and flexible 3D force sensor for teleoperated surgical systems. Advanced Sensor Research, 3 (1) 2300105, 1-15. doi: 10.1002/adsr.202300105
2023
Journal Article
A smart, textile-driven, soft exosuit for spinal assistance
Zhu, Kefan, Phan, Phuoc Thien, Sharma, Bibhu, Davies, James, Thai, Mai Thanh, Hoang, Trung Thien, Nguyen, Chi Cong, Ji, Adrienne, Nicotra, Emanuele, La, Hung Manh, Vo-Doan, Tat Thang, Phan, Hoang-Phuong, Lovell, Nigel H. and Do, Thanh Nho (2023). A smart, textile-driven, soft exosuit for spinal assistance. Sensors, 23 (19) 8329, 1-19. doi: 10.3390/s23198329
2023
Conference Publication
Burst stimulation for enhanced locomotion control of terrestrial cyborg insects
Nguyen, H. Duoc, Sato, Hirotaka and Vo-Doan, T. Thang (2023). Burst stimulation for enhanced locomotion control of terrestrial cyborg insects. 2023 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), London, United Kingdom, 29 May-2 June 2023. Washington, DC USA: IEEE Computer Society. doi: 10.1109/icra48891.2023.10160443
2023
Journal Article
Displacement experiments provide evidence for path integration in Drosophila
V. Titova, Anna, Kau, Benedikt E., Tibor, Shir, Mach, Jana, Vo-Doan, T. Thang, Wittlinger, Matthias and Straw, Andrew D. (2023). Displacement experiments provide evidence for path integration in Drosophila. Journal of Experimental Biology, 226 (12) jeb245289, 1-10. doi: 10.1242/jeb.245289
2023
Journal Article
Intelligent insect–computer hybrid robot: installing innate obstacle negotiation and onboard human detection onto cyborg insect
Tran-Ngoc, Phuoc Thanh, Le, Duc Long, Chong, Bing Sheng, Nguyen, Huu Duoc, Dung, Van Than, Cao, Feng, Li, Yao, Kai, Kazuki, Gan, Jia Hui, Vo-Doan, Tat Thang, Nguyen, Thanh Luan and Sato, Hirotaka (2023). Intelligent insect–computer hybrid robot: installing innate obstacle negotiation and onboard human detection onto cyborg insect. Advanced Intelligent Systems, 5 (5) 2200319. doi: 10.1002/aisy.202200319
2022
Journal Article
Efficient autonomous navigation for terrestrial insect-machine hybrid systems
Nguyen, H. Duoc, Dung, V. Than, Sato, Hirotaka and Vo-Doan, T. Thang (2022). Efficient autonomous navigation for terrestrial insect-machine hybrid systems. Sensors and Actuators B-Chemical, 376 (Part A) 132988, 132988. doi: 10.1016/j.snb.2022.132988
2022
Journal Article
A cyborg insect reveals a function of a muscle in free flight
Vo-Doan, T. Thang, Dung, V. Than and Sato, Hirotaka (2022). A cyborg insect reveals a function of a muscle in free flight. Cyborg and Bionic Systems, 2022 9780504, 9780504. doi: 10.34133/2022/9780504
2021
Journal Article
Alloy-free amorphous Pt–B–P/C electrocatalyst for enhanced methanol electro-oxidation
Poon, Kee Chun, Phan, Quoc Tuan, Vo-Doan, T. Thang, Lin, Ming and Sato, Hirotaka (2021). Alloy-free amorphous Pt–B–P/C electrocatalyst for enhanced methanol electro-oxidation. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 46 (61), 31305-31311. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.07.045
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr T. Thang Vo-Doan is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
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Biorobots and fast lock-on tracking
Several Bachelor, Master, and PhD projects on insect-machine hybrid robots, insect-inspired robots, fast-lock on tracking, and biomechanics of insect locomotion are available in the lab. Please contact Dr. T. Thang Vo-Doan for more detail, if your background is in engineering (etc. mechanical, mechatronics, electronics, biomedical) or biology (etc. neuroscience, zoology, biophysics).
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Development of Bio-Inspired Devices Based on Insect Structure and Function
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dan Yuan
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Doctor Philosophy
Autonomous insect-machine hybrid robots
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ross McAree
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Doctor Philosophy
Smart trap for surveillance of mosquitoes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Maggy Lord
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Doctor Philosophy
Development of a Living Wireless Sensor Network for Environmental Monitoring
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ross McAree
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Doctor Philosophy
Near-infrared and machine learning algorithms to detect arboviruses transmitted by mosquitoes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sassan Asgari, Dr Maggy Lord
Media
Enquiries
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