Yuhui Wan

Research Associate in Autonomy for Surgical Robots

From human-machine teaming to embodied AI in surgical robotics, my research focuses on building intelligent systems that collaborate with humans in complex surgical tasks.

Tell us about your journey before you joined the Centre for AI in Assistive Autonomy?

Before joining the Centre for AI in Assistive Autonomy, I worked at Huawei Noah’s Ark Lab in London, applying embodied AI methods in real-world robotics systems. I completed a PhD at the University of Leeds, where I focused on shared autonomy and embodied AI in robotics, particularly in human-machine teaming. During this time, I also contributed to research on mobile manipulator teleoperation and task difficulty modeling.

What motivates you to work in this area?

I’m motivated by the opportunity to positively impact human health and well-being through technology. Bridging the gap between human capability and machine intelligence in high-stakes environments like surgery allows us to build systems that genuinely enhance lives — not just by improving efficiency, but by enabling safer, more accessible care for everyone.

What do you love about Edinburgh?

I’ve been a FAA pilot for 7 years, and flying has been both a personal passion and a way to see the world from a different perspective.