Rongqian Chen
Rongqian Chen

PhD Student

George Washington University

About Me

I’m a PhD student at GWU started in Fall 2024, supervised by Dr. Tian Lan. My research directions include AI, robotics and AR/VR technology.

I’m an interdisciplinary researcher with expertise in electrical, mechanical, and software engineering. My past works span mathematical modeling and simulation, hardware (circuits, chips), embedded/controls software, and mechanical design and prototyping.

Looking ahead, I am interested in building AI models that give robots the ability to perceive, reason, and act in complex physical environments. I’m also exploring how AR/VR (XR) can augment perception, control, and human–robot collaboration to deliver truly embodied intelligence. I believe these techniques have the power to transform lives in profound ways.

Interests
  • Agentic AI
  • Reinforcement Learning
  • Robotics
  • Extended Reality
Education

  • PhD Electrical Engineering

    George Washington University

  • MSc Electrical Engineering

    University of Pennsylvania

  • BEng Automation

    Southwest Jiaotong University

Publications
Zeyu Fang, Beomyeol Yu, Cheng Liu, Zeyuan Yang, Rongqian Chen, Yuxin Lin, Mahdi Imani, Tian Lan (2026). Reasoning Knowledge-Gap in Drone Planning via LLM-based Active Elicitation. AAAI 2026 Spring Symposium (Accepted).
Sizhe Tang, Rongqian Chen, Tian Lan (2026). Agent Alpha: Tree Search Unifying Generation, Exploration and Evaluation for Computer-Use Agents. arXiv preprint.
PDF arXiv
Yu Li, Sizhe Tang, Rongqian Chen, Fei Xu Yu, Guangyu Jiang, Mahdi Imani, Nathaniel D Bastian, Tian Lan (2026). ACDZero: Graph-Embedding-Based Tree Search for Mastering Automated Cyber Defense. 2026 IEEE International Conference on Computer Communications (INFOCOM) Workshop (Accepted).
PDF Cite arXiv
Rongqian Chen, Shu Hong, Rifatul Islam, Mahdi Imani, Gang Tan, Tian Lan (2025). Perception Graph for Cognitive Attack Reasoning in Augmented Reality. 2025 ACM International Symposium on Mobile Ad Hoc Networking and Computing Workshop (MobiHoc).
Cite
Shu Hong, Rongqian Chen, Rifatul Islam, Mahdi Imani, Gang Tan, Tian Lan (2025). Time-Aware LSTM for Gaze Prediction in Mixed Reality Under Latency Perturbations. 2025 ACM International Symposium on Mobile Ad Hoc Networking and Computing Workshop (MobiHoc) (Best Poster Award).
Cite
Rongqian Chen, Allison Andreyev, Yanming Xiu, Mahdi Imani, Bin Li, Maria Gorlatova, Gang Tan, Tian Lan (2025). A Neurosymbolic Framework for Interpretable Cognitive Attack Detection in Augmented Reality. arXiv preprint.
PDF Cite arXiv
Rongqian Chen, Jun Kwon, Kefan Wu, Wei-Hsi Chen (2025). Tunable Leg Stiffness in a Monopedal Hopper for Energy-Efficient Vertical Hopping Across Varying Ground Profiles. 2025 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA).
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Rongqian Chen, Jun Kwon, Wei-Hsi Chen, Cynthia Sung (2024). Design and Characterization of a Pneumatic Tunable-Stiffness Bellows Actuator. 2024 IEEE International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft).
PDF Cite Link
Shivangi Misra, Mason Mitchell, Rongqian Chen, Cynthia Sung (2023). Design and Control of a Tunable-Stiffness Coiled-Spring Actuator. 2023 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA).
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Rongqian Chen, Yingquan Zou, Anyong Gao, Leshi Chen (2022). A Cluster-Based Weighted Feature Similarity Moving Target Tracking Algorithm for Automotive FMCW Radar. 2022-Spring IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC).
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Ping Yang, Xi Chen, Rongqian Chen, Yusheng Peng, Songrong Wu, Jianping Xu (2021). Stability improvement of pulse power supply with dual-inductance active storage unit using hysteresis current control. IEEE Journal on Emerging and Selected Topics in Circuits and Systems (JETCAS).
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Projects
AR Guiding System: Assembly King
Macro Economics Bot: MarketDigest
Legged Hopping Robot and Ground Emulator
Pneumatic Bellows Tunable Stiffness Actuator
Mouse-Keyboard System Embedded on A Glove
Tunable-Stiffness Coil-Spring manipulator
Pick and Place Challenge for Robotic Arm
FPGA based Accelerated CNN
Tracking algorithm for mmWave radar
Intelligent Racing Cars
See all
Featured Publications
Tunable Leg Stiffness in a Monopedal Hopper for Energy-Efficient Vertical Hopping Across Varying Ground Profiles
Design and Characterization of a Pneumatic Tunable-Stiffness Bellows Actuator
A Cluster-Based Weighted Feature Similarity Moving Target Tracking Algorithm for Automotive FMCW Radar
Stability improvement of pulse power supply with dual-inductance active storage unit using hysteresis current control
Notes