Global Robotics Leader Returns to China for Academic Leadership
Pang Zhibo, a renowned figure in industrial automation and robotics, has transitioned from ABB Sweden to Peking University. He now serves as a tenured professor at the university’s newly elevated School of Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics. This move reflects China’s growing ambition to lead in next-generation control systems and smart manufacturing.
From ABB’s R&D Helm to Academic Innovation
At ABB, Pang held the role of Senior Principal Scientist, overseeing over 800 developers and 80 technical products. He directly influenced ABB’s global R&D strategy across sectors like factory automation, industrial drives, and smart buildings. His leadership helped shape ABB’s approach to PLC, DCS, and networked control systems, making him one of the most influential figures in the company’s technical hierarchy.
Technical Expertise in Robotics and Control Systems
Pang’s research spans robotic embodiment intelligence, industrial large models, and next-gen controllers. He also contributed to cyber-physical security, cloud/fog computing, and 5G/6G communications. These technologies are foundational to modern control systems and industrial automation platforms, especially in high-performance environments like semiconductor fabs and automotive plants.
Academic Footprint Across Three Continents
In addition to his new role in China, Pang holds adjunct professorships at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden and the University of Sydney in Australia. His academic work focuses on cloud-edge automation, embodied intelligence, and secure communication protocols for 6G. These areas are critical for distributed control systems and real-time industrial data exchange.
Strategic Implications for China’s Automation Sector
Pang’s return signals a strategic boost for China’s ambitions in advanced manufacturing. His expertise in industrial control architectures and robotic systems aligns with national goals to reduce reliance on foreign automation technologies. Moreover, his presence at Peking University may accelerate domestic innovation in PLC/DCS integration, AI-driven control loops, and smart factory deployments.
Author Commentary: Bridging Industry and Academia
Pang’s move exemplifies a growing trend where top industry experts transition into academia to shape future talent and research. This shift is particularly impactful in industrial automation, where real-world experience enhances theoretical development. His background in deploying scalable control systems across ABB’s product lines offers valuable insights for China’s evolving automation landscape.
Application Scenario: Smart Factory Deployment
Consider a smart factory integrating PLC-based control systems with AI-enhanced robotic arms. Pang’s research on embodied intelligence and cloud-edge automation directly supports such deployments. His work enables real-time decision-making, predictive maintenance, and secure data exchange across distributed nodes—key features for next-gen manufacturing.