Difan Tang

Research Interests

Automation and Control Engineering Control Systems Control Theory Dynamics, Vibration and Vibration Control Flight Control Systems Mechanical Engineering Motor Control Process Control and Simulation

Dr Difan Tang

ARC Grant-Funded Researcher B

School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences

College of Science

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Dr Difan Tang received the B.Eng. degree in Mechanical Engineering and Automation from South China University of Technology, China, in 2006; the M.Sc. degree in Advanced Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sheffield, U.K., in 2007; the M.Eng.Sc. degree in Mechatronics from the University of Adelaide, Australia, in 2012; the Ph.D. degree in Mechatronics from the University of Adelaide, Australia, in 2019.He was an engineer at ZWCAD Software Co., Ltd. (ZWSOFT), China, from 2008 to 2009, and has been taking up roles in casual teaching support within the School of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Adelaide since 2009. As a researcher and an engineer, he specialises in mechatronic/systems engineering and is perusing his research interests in emerging mechatronic systems in the aerospace, mining and healthcare sectors.

  • New sensor development for online particle size measurement in wet/dry mineral processing
  • Vibration sensing for real-time condition monitoring of grinding mills
  • Active-truss-based morphing wing
  • Virtual stiffness-damping system
  • Robust tracking control via unknown-input estimation and compensation
  • Adaptive, nonlinear and optimal control using neural networks
  • Active suppression of aerofoil flutter

Date Position Institution name
2019 - ongoing Research Associate The University of Adelaide
2009 - ongoing Teaching Assistant The University of Adelaide
2008 - 2009 Overseas Technical Support Engineer ZWCAD Software Co. Ltd. (ZWSOFT)

Date Institution name Country Title
The University of Adelaide Australia Doctor of Philosophy
The University of Adelaide Australia Master of Engineering Science
The University of Sheffield United Kingdom Master of Science
South China University of Technology China Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

Year Citation
2026 Tang, D., Korolis, T., Li, Z., Chen, L., Greet, C., & Asamoah, R. (2026). Linking mill shell vibration to particle size reduction gradient along a high-intensity grinding mill chamber. Minerals Engineering, 235(109811), 1-9.
DOI
2026 Tang, D., Yang, L., Chen, L., Asamoah, R. K., & Hu, E. (2026). Real-time bulk-density monitoring for rotary air concentration used in alluvial gold mining. Powder Technology, 469(121865), 1-8.
DOI
2026 Tang, D., Korolis, T., Chen, L., Greet, C., & Asamoah, R. (2026). High-intensity grinding mill media wear detection via real-time vibration monitoring: a case study on a Metso HIGmill™ pilot plant. Minerals Engineering, 236(109921), 1-10.
DOI
2025 Yang, L., Chen, L., Tang, D., Zanin, M., Aldrich, C., & Asamoah, R. (2025). Roping Prediction Versus Detection: Could Prediction Be Possible?. Minerals, 15(2), 110-1-110-20.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1
2025 Tang, D., Chen, L., Asamoah, R. K., & Hu, E. (2025). Online particle-size monitoring for hydrocyclone overflow: where is the beacon?. Minerals Engineering, 233(109553), 1-15.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1
2025 Asamoah, R. K., Owusu, K. B., Tang, D., & Chen, L. (2025). Unique acoustic response of varying feed size in autogenous/semi-autogenous (AG/SAG) mills. Minerals Engineering, 233(109648), 109648.
DOI
2024 Yang, L., Tang, D., Chen, L., Aldrich, C., Zanin, M., & Peukert, D. (2024). Online mass-flow-rate measurement of high-intensity gas-conveyed particle flow for dry mineral processing. Powder Technology, 488(120329), 120329-1-120329-11.
DOI Scopus3 WoS2
2021 Tang, D., Chen, L., Tian, Z. F., & Hu, E. (2021). A neural network approach for improving airfoil active flutter suppression under control-input constraints. Journal of Vibration and Control, 27(3-4), 451-467.
DOI Scopus8 WoS7
2021 Tang, D., Chen, L., Tian, Z., & Hu, E. (2021). Modified value-function-approximation for synchronous policy iteration with single-critic configuration for nonlinear optimal control. International Journal of Control, 94(5), 1321-1333.
DOI Scopus6 WoS6
2020 Tang, D., Chen, L., Tian, Z., & Hu, E. (2020). Developing a virtual stiffness-damping system for airfoil aeroelasticity testing. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 468, 115061-1-115061-16.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4
2018 Tang, D., Chen, L., Tian, Z., & Hu, E. (2018). Adaptive nonlinear optimal control for active suppression of airfoil flutter via a novel neural-network-based controller. Journal of Vibration and Control, 24(22), 5261-5272.
DOI Scopus17 WoS15
2016 Tang, D., Chen, L., Hu, E., & Tian, Z. (2016). A novel actuator controller: delivering a practical solution to realization of active-truss-based morphing wings. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 63(10), 6226-6237.
DOI Scopus10 WoS9

Year Citation
2022 Tang, D., Chen, L., Yang, L., & Hu, E. (2022). New sensor development for hydrocyclone overflow particle cumulative percent passing size online monitoring - a preliminary experimental investigation under dry condition. In R. Batterham (Ed.), Proceedings of the IMPC Asia Pacific 2022 Vol. 5/2022 (pp. 625-631). Melbourne, Australia + Online: The Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2019 Tang, D., Chen, L., Tian, Z., & Hu, E. (2019). Developing a virtual stiffness-damping system for airfoil aeroelasticity testing. In Proceedings of the 20th IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology (ICIT 2019) Vol. 2019-February (pp. 96-101). Piscataway, NJ: IEEE.
DOI Scopus2 WoS1
2019 Tang, D., Chen, L., Tian, Z., & Hu, E. (2019). Parametric analysis for robust force/torque tracking control of a virtual stiffness-damping system in airfoil aeroelasticity testing. In Proceedings of the 2019 American Control Conference (ACC) Vol. 2019-July (pp. 3557-3562). Philadelphia, USA: IEEE.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1
2017 Tang, D., Chen, L., Tian, Z., & Hu, E. (2017). Nonlinear optimal control for active suppression of airfoil flutter via a novel neural-network-based controller. In Proceedings of the 2017 25th Mediterranean Conference on Control and Automation (MED) (pp. 253-258). Valletta, Malta: IEEE.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2
2015 Tang, D., Chen, L., & Tian, Z. (2015). Neural-network based online policy iteration for continuous-time infinite-horizon optimal control of nonlinear systems. In Proceedings of the 2015 IEEE China Summit & International Conference on Signal and Information processing (pp. 792-796). Chengdu, China: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
DOI Scopus3 WoS2
2014 Tang, D., Chen, L., & Hu, E. (2014). A novel unknown-input estimator for disturbance estimation and compensation. In Proceedings of Australasian Conference on Robotics and Automation Vol. 02-04-December-2014 (pp. 116-1-116-8). Melbourne, Vic.: ARAA.
Scopus9
  • Auto Control I
  • Mechatronics IM
  • Mechatronics II

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2025 Co-Supervisor Optimising indoor navigation of autonomous mobile robot using Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Nagamalar Nagarajan
2025 Co-Supervisor Optimising indoor navigation of autonomous mobile robot using Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Nagamalar Nagarajan
2024 Co-Supervisor Thermal modelling and control for glass fabrication Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Gete Li
2024 Co-Supervisor Thermal modelling and control for glass fabrication Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Gete Li

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2020 - 2025 Co-Supervisor Vibration Sensing for Performance Monitoring and Early-Stage Roping Detection in Hydrocyclones Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Lin Yang

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