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Lei Zhou

Lei Zhou

Assistant Professor

My research interest is centered around Precision Mechatronics, which aims to develop novel and high-performance mechatronic solutions through exploiting the synergy between precision mechanical design, electromagnetics, and control engineering, thereby enabling practical impact in critical application areas. My current research activities mainly focus on:

Electric Machine and Drives: Modeling, design, and control for high-torque electric motors,linear actuators, bearingless motors, and magnetic bearings;

Control Engineering: Novel control and estimation solutions for high-performance motion systems,electric machines, and robots;

Precision Engineering: Precision positioning systems for photolithography machines, nano-manufacturingsystems, and scientific instruments.

Professor Lei Zhou, Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison

  • PhD 2019, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • MS 2014, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • BE 2012, Tsinghua University

  • Precision mechatronics
  • Control Engineering
  • Electric machine design and control
  • Robotic actuation
  • Precision machine design

Joint Departmental Appointments

  • 2023 American Society of Precision Engineering (ASPE), ASPE Early Career Award
  • 2023 Meta Research Award Program, Meta Research Award
  • 2022 Society for Cardiac Robotic Navigation, Best Experiment Paper Award
  • 2022 Sony Corporation, Sony research award program, Sony Faculty Research Award
  • 2018 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Wunsch Foundation Award for Outstanding Graduate Research
  • 2017 ASML, Veldhoven, The Netherlands, ASML Ph.D. Master Class Invitee
  • 2016 Third Annual Student Challenge, American Society for Precision Engineering, First Place Winner
  • 2013 ASPE Spring Topical Meeting and MIT LMP Summit, Best Poster Presentation Award
  • 2012 Tsinghua University, Outstanding College Graduate
  • 2009 Tsinghua University, Academic Scholarships

  • Wu, J., & Zhou, L. (2025). Transcending the acceleration-bandwidth trade-off: Over-actuated precision motion stages with selective compliance and servo stiffness. Mechatronics, 108, 103314 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mechatronics.2025.103314
  • Wu, J., Yu, K., Lopez, I., Izquierdo, A. A., Saber, H., Alambeigi, F., & Zhou, L. (2023). Integrated Magnetic Location Sensing and Actuation of Steerable Robotic Catheters for Peripheral Arterial Disease Treatment. IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, 8(9), 5656-5663 https://doi.org/10.1109/lra.2023.3295297
  • Heyman, I. L., Wu, J., & Zhou, L. (2023). LevCube: A six-degree-of-freedom magnetically levitated nanopositioning stage with centimeter-range XYZ motion. Precision Engineering, 83, 102-111 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precisioneng.2023.04.008
  • Liu, Y., Mohanraj, T. G., Rajebi, M. R., Zhou, L., & Alambeigi, F. (2022). Multiphysical Analytical Modeling and Design of a Magnetically Steerable Robotic Catheter for Treatment of Peripheral Artery Disease. IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, 27(4), 1873-1881 https://doi.org/10.1109/tmech.2022.3174520

  • ECE 577 - Automatic Controls Laboratory (Spring 2026)
  • ECE 699 - Advanced Independent Study (Spring 2026)
  • ECE 790 - Master's Research (Spring 2026)
  • ECE 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Spring 2026)
  • ECE 990 - Dissertator's Research (Spring 2026)
  • ME 491 - Mechanical Engineering Projects I (Spring 2026)
  • ME 577 - Automatic Controls Laboratory (Spring 2026)
  • ME 790 - Master's Research and Thesis (Spring 2026)
  • ME 890 - PhD Research and Thesis (Spring 2026)
  • ME 990 - Dissertator Research and Thesis (Spring 2026)
  • ECE 699 - Advanced Independent Study (Fall 2025)
  • ECE 790 - Master's Research (Fall 2025)
  • ECE 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Fall 2025)
  • ECE 990 - Dissertator's Research (Fall 2025)
  • ME 376 - Introduction to Mechatronics (Fall 2025)
  • ME 790 - Master's Research and Thesis (Fall 2025)
  • ME 890 - PhD Research and Thesis (Fall 2025)
  • ME 990 - Dissertator Research and Thesis (Fall 2025)
  • ECE 699 - Advanced Independent Study (Summer 2025)
  • ECE 790 - Master's Research (Summer 2025)
  • ECE 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Summer 2025)
  • ECE 990 - Dissertator's Research (Summer 2025)
  • ME 790 - Master's Research and Thesis (Summer 2025)
  • ME 890 - PhD Research and Thesis (Summer 2025)
  • ME 990 - Dissertator Research and Thesis (Summer 2025)
  • ECE 699 - Advanced Independent Study (Spring 2025)
  • ECE 790 - Master's Research (Spring 2025)
  • ECE 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Spring 2025)
  • ME 376 - Introduction to Mechatronics (Spring 2025)
  • ME 491 - Mechanical Engineering Projects I (Spring 2025)
  • ME 890 - PhD Research and Thesis (Spring 2025)
  • ECE 790 - Master's Research (Fall 2024)
  • ECE 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Fall 2024)
  • ME 890 - PhD Research and Thesis (Fall 2024)
  • ME 890 - PhD Research and Thesis (Summer 2024)
  • ECE 577 - Automatic Controls Laboratory (Spring 2024)
  • ECE 699 - Advanced Independent Study (Spring 2024)
  • ME 491 - Mechanical Engineering Projects I (Spring 2024)
  • ME 577 - Automatic Controls Laboratory (Spring 2024)
  • ME 890 - PhD Research and Thesis (Spring 2024)