ABOUT US
The PAI Lab. is a multidisciplinary research group consisted of academic and industry experts. Led by Professor Erwu Liu, the team includes professors/associate professors/assistant professors, national high-level talents, senior engineers, postdoctoral researchers, Ph.D. and master students, as well as more than 50 undergraduate students, studying intelligent sensing, reliable communication, and secure information processing, with strong capabilities in both theoretical research and engineering practice.
The PAI Lab. has established three key research directions: PNL, AIBI, and IoT-NG, with activities on fundamental research, technological innovation, journal development, conference organization, standards development, engineering implementation and demonstration in the areas of positioning & sensing, Internet of Things & communication, and artificial intelligence & blockchain. The PAI Lab. has formed a robust network of partnerships, currently collaborating with leading organizations such as the IEEE, IET, China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, ZTE, Nokia Bell, Huawei, China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSSC), SAIC Motor, WingTech Technology, Huace Navigation, Qianxun Spatial Intelligence, China International Import Expo (CIIE), National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC), National Stadium (Bird's Nest), Shanghai Data Bureau, Shanghai Data Group, Pujiang Digital Chain, Yunphant Network, Ouyeel, China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF), Huatu Information Technology, ARM, CSIRO Australia, Imperial College London, and University College London, among others.
The technologies developed by the team have received extensive coverage from prominent national media outlets such as China Central Television (CCTV), Xinhua News Agency, Guangming Daily, and China Daily, winning various awards including:
First Place, Microsoft Indoor Localization Competition;
Grand Prize, China International Industry Fair--one of the highest honors in China's industrial sector;
Gold Medal, China International College Students' "Internet+" Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition--the world's largest student innovation competition;
China Industry-University-Research (IUR) Collaborative Innovation Award;
China Patent Excellent Award;
First-Class Award of Technical Invention, Shanghai;
First-Class Award of Science and Technology Progress, Shanghai;
First-Class Award of Technical Invention, Ministry of Education of China.
The PAI Lab. serves as the primary liaison for Tongji University with international standards organizations such as the ITU and IEEE. It founded IET Blockchain--the first international academic journal dedicated to blockchain research, as well as the inaugural IEEE Global Blockchain Conference (GBC). The center also leads the development of the IEEE Blockchain Technical Community for the APAC/China region, and has established the Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Blockchain Applications And Services (SERCBAAS). It has developed the official navigation system for the China International Import Expo (CCIE) since 2018, and contributed to the development of accessible systems in Guangzhou, Zhangwu, Hong Kong, and Macau.
The students of the team have received numerous awards, including the Postdoctoral Innovation Talents Support Program, the Microsoft Indoor Localization Competition, and the China International College Students' "Internet+" Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition. The team has published over 210 papers, holds more than 100 patents, and published a monograph titled Magnetic Communications - Theory and Techniques, published by Cambridge University Press in 2024.
PAI Research Center, Tongji University
Research Areas
Graduates
Undergraduates
The PAI Research Center at Tongji University (PAI Lab.) aims to lead integrated research in communication, sensing, and computing, producing distinctive results representative of Tongji’s strengths. The center focuses on theories of artificial intelligence and blockchain, conducting joint optimization designs for communication, sensing, and positioning, and promoting blockchain-enabled national infrastructure (communication, Beidou satellite system, model data/algorithms, etc.).
TEAM
Research Interests: Wireless communication, artificial intelligence, and blockchain
Biography:Professor Erwu Liu from Tongji University is a prominent expert with a PhD and a postdoctoral experience from Imperial College London. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). Professor Liu has extensive research experience in network applications, artificial intelligence, Accessible guide for the blind, blockchain, and magnetic communications. He has published numerous influential papers and holds editorial positions in journals such as IET Blockchain and China Communications. He is the organizer of several international academic conferences and has led projects recognized by international organizations. Professor Liu has received multiple awards, including the National Innovation Award, Shanghai Technology Innovation Award, and contributions to national infrastructure projects. His research achievements have been widely reported by major media, and he actively contributes to professional committees in his field.
Research Interests: Wireless communication, machine learning, signal processing
Biography:Professor Rui Wang specializes in autonomous systems and machine learning and has a strong research background in signal processing, wireless communications reconfigurable intelligence surface. He serves as a professor at Tongji University’s Intelligent Autonomous Systems Research Center and supervises PhD students. His collaborations include partnerships with organizations like Shanghai Data Exchange, Huawei, and other prominent companies. He has published over 80 high-impact papers across IEEE journals such as TWC, TSP, and TCOM, with contributions spanning AI and wireless communication. Professor Wang has received awards including the Shanghai Technology Innovation Award and is responsible for IEEE publications such as Wireless Communications Letters and IET Blockchain. His work has been recognized with honors such as the National Innovation Award, and he holds editorial roles in various prestigious journals.
Research Interests: Wireless networks, random access protocols, and network resource allocation
Biography:Dr. Yan Liu is a talented young researcher and part of the Shanghai High-Level Talent Program. Since joining Tongji University, she has focused on research in wireless networks, random access protocols, and network resource allocation. She has a track record of high-impact publications in journals such as IEEE Globecom, IEEE ICC, and IEEE VTC, and has presented at multiple international conferences. Dr. Liu has also led research projects funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and collaborated with leading institutions. Her work explores the interface between communication technology and machine learning, contributing to cutting-edge advancements in network algorithms and protocols.
Research Interests: Computational Mathematics, Big Data Analysis, AI for Engineering
Biography: Professor Dunhui Xiao is an accomplished researcher and a recipient of the National Distinguished Young Scholar award. He is a professor at the Shanghai Autonomous Systems and Robotics Center and serves as a PhD supervisor. Professor Xiao has been deeply involved in various national and international research projects, working with institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Royal Society, and EPSRC. His primary research interests include computational architecture, big data analysis, data modeling, and AI for engineering applications. He has published over 40 high-impact papers, including in IEEE journals and conferences such as ISCAS, IET, and IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters. Professor Xiao is a senior member of IEEE and actively engages in academic service within the fields of AI for Engineering, Big Data, and Computational Systems.
Research Interests: Machine Learning, Integrated Communication-Sensing-Computing, Space-Air-Ground Integrated Networks
Biography: Dr. Hu is the Associate professor and master’s supervisor of Tongji University. She holds the Ph.D in Science from Fudan University(jointly trained at the National University of Singapore) and previously served as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Fudan University and selected for the Shanghai ‘Super Postdoctoral’ Incentive Program. Her research interests include machine learning and optimization theory, with applications in wireless communications, integrated communication-sensing-computing and space-air-ground integrated networks. She has led projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation. She has published 17 papers in the field, including 14 as the first author, in top-tier journals ranked in Category I by the Chinese Academy of Sciences or IEEE Transactions, with the highest single-paper impact factor reaching 34.4( a record in the communications field). She serves as a technical committee member for conferences such as IEEE GLOBECOM, ICC, and VTC.