An introduction of myself(video)
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Introduction
Yong is a seasoned professional with nearly 20 years of experience in robotics and technology. Starting in 2005, he made his mark in the robotics industry, evolving into a cross-disciplinary technology expert and entrepreneur through his passion for innovation. His career spans robotics development, industrial automation, the Industrial Internet, and artificial intelligence (AI). Below is a detailed account of his background, key projects, and contributions to the industry.
Career Beginnings and Early Experience
Yong’s career began in 2005 as an intern at Staubli, a Swiss industrial robotics company, at its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Hangzhou. As the fifth employee (and third technical staff member), his two-month internship provided a strong technical foundation. He later moved to Germany, where he worked for nearly seven years, gaining extensive experience in industrial robotics and automation. These early roles deepened his understanding of robotics applications in manufacturing and set the stage for his entrepreneurial journey.
Key Projects and Technological Innovations
Yong has led several impactful projects throughout his career. Here are some notable examples:
Automotive Dashboard Weakening Equipment
As an independent consultant, Yong contributed to the development of weakening equipment for passenger-side airbag dashboards in the automotive industry. Using cold knife, hot knife, or laser technology, this equipment reduces the strength of specific dashboard areas to ensure airbags deploy effectively. The project addressed the entire processing chain, from surface skin to foam layers and plastic skeletons, and was adopted by numerous car brands, including Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y. Yong’s confidence in Tesla’s safety standards stems from his deep involvement in this project.
Industrial Internet Remote Service Platform
After leaving the German company, Yong founded a startup and launched an Industrial Internet product focused on remote service, diagnostics, and preventive maintenance for industrial equipment. The product featured self-developed hardware and software, built from PCB design to cloud infrastructure. Serving clients across Asia and Europe, it reduced travel costs by 70%, improved response times by 80%, and boosted engineer efficiency by over 50%. Notably, both of Yong’s former employers, including the German company, became clients.
OmniEdge IoT Secure Networking Product
Building on the Industrial Internet product, Yong developed OmniEdge, an open-source IoT secure networking solution. Using peer-to-peer (P2P) technology, it supports cross-platform device connectivity, including Apple, Android, Windows, Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, and router systems like OpenWRT and Synology. OmniEdge serves over 10,000 users across 26 countries, with all code available on GitHub. Yong also authored an English-language book about the project, available on Amazon.
DeepFashion AI Fashion Design Platform
Launched in late 2023, DeepFashion is an AI platform for global fashion designers. Serving over 10,000 designers in 80+ countries, it generated more than 600,000 fashion design drafts, saving 70% of design time and achieving over 100x innovation output. The project’s innovation earned coverage from the Associated Press and was acquired in early 2024.
Low-Code Laser Cutting System
Early in his career, Yong collaborated with CKY to develop China’s first low-code/no-code laser cutting system for industrial robots. Designed for simplicity, the system allowed high school students to operate it, significantly lowering the barrier to laser cutting programming. Extensively tested in places like Baoying, Jiangsu, it contributed to the democratization of industrial automation.
Industry Contributions and Thought Leadership
Beyond technical development, Yong has made significant contributions through blogging, community building, and public speaking. His blog, initially called “China Robot Alliance” and later renamed “Yu Ren Poli and Robot,” ran for over a decade and was widely read by robotics professionals. He also founded the nonprofit Robotics FAQ community to share robotics applications and academic papers while answering industry questions. Additionally, he created “Xu Lang,” a training platform offering courses on robotics and Siemens PLC, fostering talent development.
Yong served as an expert for the National Cloud Platform for Industrial Robots and the Industrial Internet, contributing to the white paper Supply Chain Innovation and Applications Based on the Industrial Internet. He delivered talks on robotics, the Industrial Internet, and AI at Tsinghua University, Bocconi University in Italy, and the China Fashion Forum, sharing cutting-edge insights.
Educational Background and Lifelong Learning
Yong holds a Bachelor of Engineering and an MBA, the latter earned through an online program during the pandemic. He has also completed courses from Northwestern University, the University of Michigan, Wharton, and Stanford via Coursera, covering technology, management, and innovation. This commitment to lifelong learning has enabled him to thrive across disciplines, from robotics to AI entrepreneurship.
Conclusion
Yong’s career is a testament to his journey from technical expertise to cross-disciplinary innovation. Through projects in robotics, the Industrial Internet, and AI, he has demonstrated how technology can transform industries. His open-source ethos, industry contributions, and dedication to education have left a lasting impact on the robotics and technology community. Looking ahead, Yong’s technical vision and entrepreneurial drive will undoubtedly continue to shape the industry’s future.
