Tenured Full Professor, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), China
Prof. Hanlin Zhan, born on April 26, 1990, is a Full Professor at Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), specializing in electrical engineering with a focus on advanced electric drive technologies. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Sheffield, supported by Siemens-Gamesa, and completed postdoctoral research through the Tsinghua University–Midea Group collaboration. Prof. Zhan has a rich academic and industrial background, having led cutting-edge research at Midea’s Institute of Robotics and Automations. His work is widely published in IEEE Transactions, contributing significantly to sensorless control, PMSM drives, and high-efficiency electric motors. With over 30 million RMB in research funding, he continues to bridge academia and industry. Recognized with awards such as the “Outstanding Young Professor” and Huawei’s “Spark Prize,” he remains a driving force in the electrification of robotics, EVs, eVTOLs, and smart appliances.
Professional Profile
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Education
Prof. Hanlin Zhan’s educational journey reflects a balance of foundational knowledge and advanced specialization. He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering from Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), where he studied under Prof. Gaolin Wang from the esteemed group of Prof. Dianguo Xu. He later pursued a Ph.D. at the University of Sheffield (2014–2017), with his research funded by Siemens-Gamesa and supervised by Prof. Z.Q. Zhu—renowned for his contributions to electric machines. His thesis work was embedded in real-world applications, aligning with industrial innovations. Following this, Prof. Zhan completed a competitive postdoctoral fellowship (2017–2019) through the Midea Group–Tsinghua University Joint Program, mentored by Prof. Xi Xiao. This multidisciplinary exposure enabled him to integrate academic rigor with industrial demands, forming a solid basis for his future research in electric drives and intelligent systems.
Experience
Prof. Hanlin Zhan’s professional experience bridges high-level academia and transformative industry research. He began his career at Midea Group’s Corporate Research Center, serving from 2017 to 2020. There, he quickly advanced from Staff Engineer in the Institute of Motor and Drives to Senior Staff Engineer and Founder of the Institute of Robotics and Automations. In 2020, he transitioned to academia as a Tenured Associate Professor at Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), where his research and teaching significantly impacted the Department of Robotics and Advanced Manufacture. In December 2024, he was promoted to Full Professor. His career is marked by leadership in high-value projects (over 30 million RMB) and the establishment of collaborative platforms between academic institutions and industrial innovators. His cross-functional experience positions him as a thought leader in intelligent electromechanical systems, making substantial contributions to China’s high-performance robotics and electrified transport sectors.
Awards and Honors
Prof. Hanlin Zhan has received numerous prestigious honors for his contributions to electric drive systems and robotics. He was awarded the First Prize in the Science and Technology Award by the China National Light Industry Council, acknowledging his groundbreaking work in smart appliances. The Harbin Institute of Technology recognized him as an “Outstanding Young Professor,” an honor bestowed for excellence in research, teaching, and innovation. Notably, he received the “Spark Prize” from HUAWEI Technologies, highlighting his influence on intelligent hardware design. He was also globally selected for the elite “Midea Star” Global Recruitment Project in 2017—an initiative identifying under-10 international top talents in electrical and automation research. These accolades reflect Prof. Zhan’s continuous impact on industrial transformation, advanced electric machines, and sensorless control methods, reinforcing his role as a leading expert shaping the future of high-efficiency, intelligent electromechanical systems across diverse applications.
Research Focus
Prof. Hanlin Zhan’s research focuses on high-performance electric drive technologies tailored for robotics, electric vehicles (EVs), electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs), and smart home appliances. His work emphasizes sensorless control, high-efficiency motor design, and advanced position estimation methods. He has made pioneering contributions to the modeling and suppression of harmonic errors in IPMSM drives, development of novel vernier and hybrid excited machines, and the integration of zero-sequence current suppression techniques in open-winding PMSM systems. Through strong collaborations with industrial giants like Midea and Siemens-Gamesa, Prof. Zhan ensures that his research directly impacts the market-ready products and sustainable mobility solutions. His lab also explores adaptive feedback control, modular machines, and drive efficiency optimization. This comprehensive approach positions him at the frontier of electrification and automation technologies, where performance, precision, and reliability are paramount.
Publication Top Notes
- Adaptive compensation method of position estimation harmonic error for EMF-based observer in sensorless IPMSM drives
G. Wang, H. Zhan, G. Zhang, X. Gui, D. Xu
IEEE Trans. Power Electronics, 29(6), pp. 3055–3064, 2014. [Cited by: 256]
This paper presents a method to compensate harmonic errors in EMF-based position estimators, significantly improving sensorless control accuracy in IPMSM drives.
- Analytical on-load subdomain field model of permanent-magnet vernier machines
Y. Oner, Z.Q. Zhu, L.J. Wu, X. Ge, H. Zhan, J.T. Chen
IEEE Trans. Industrial Electronics, 63(7), pp. 4105–4117, 2016. [Cited by: 159]
Introduces an analytical model for PM vernier machines under load, enhancing prediction accuracy of electromagnetic performance.
- Enhanced position observer using second-order generalized integrator for sensorless IPMSM drives
G. Wang, L. Ding, Z. Li, J. Xu, G. Zhang, H. Zhan, R. Ni, D. Xu
IEEE Trans. Energy Conversion, 29(2), pp. 486–495, 2014. [Cited by: 150]
Proposes a robust observer utilizing SOGI to improve sensorless control under varying operating conditions.
- Self-commissioning of PMSM drives at standstill considering inverter nonlinearities
G. Wang, L. Qu, H. Zhan, J. Xu, L. Ding, G. Zhang, D. Xu
IEEE Trans. Power Electronics, 29(12), pp. 6615–6627, 2014. [Cited by: 149]
Addresses accurate PMSM parameter identification without motion, factoring inverter nonlinearities.
- Novel consequent-pole hybrid excited machine with separated excitation stator
H. Hua, Z.Q. Zhu, H. Zhan
IEEE Trans. Industrial Electronics, 63(8), pp. 4718–4728, 2016. [Cited by: 141]
Demonstrates improved flux control in hybrid excitation machines using a novel stator configuration.
- Analysis and suppression of zero-sequence circulating current in open winding PMSM drives
H. Zhan, Z. Zhu, M. Odavic
IEEE Trans. Industry Applications, 53(4), pp. 3609–3620, 2017. [Cited by: 133]
Provides insights and control strategies to reduce circulating current in open-winding configurations.
- A novel zero-sequence model-based sensorless method for open-winding PMSM
H. Zhan, Z.Q. Zhu, M. Odavic, Y. Li
IEEE Trans. Industrial Electronics, 63(11), pp. 6777–6789, 2016. [Cited by: 68]
Utilizes zero-sequence EMF for sensorless operation, increasing drive robustness.
- Efficiency enhancement of general AC drives by remanufacturing induction motors
R. Ni, D. Xu, G. Wang, X. Gui, G. Zhang, H. Zhan, C. Li
IEEE Trans. Industrial Electronics, 63(2), pp. 808–820, 2016. [Cited by: 68]
Proposes cost-effective conversion of IMs into IPMs to boost system efficiency.
- Modular PM machines with alternate teeth having tooth tips
G.J. Li, Z.Q. Zhu, M.P. Foster, D.A. Stone, H.L. Zhan
IEEE Trans. Industrial Electronics, 62(10), pp. 6120–6130, 2015. [Cited by: 67]
Investigates novel modular machines for performance and fault tolerance.
- Performance comparison of doubly salient reluctance machine topologies
X.Y. Ma, G.J. Li, G.W. Jewell, Z.Q. Zhu, H.L. Zhan
IEEE Trans. Industrial Electronics, 63(7), pp. 4086–4096, 2016. [Cited by: 65]
Assesses different reluctance machine designs under sinewave excitation.
Conclusion
Prof. Zhan is a strong and deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award, with a proven track record of innovation, impactful research, and industry-oriented contributions.