Wenhao Yang, Ph.D.
Dr. Wenhao Yang
Assistant Professor
Email: wenhao.yang@lamar.edu
Office: Cherry Building, Room 2628
Phone: 409-880-1891
Education
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Ph.D., Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2023
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M.S., Mechanical Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, 2019
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B.S., Aerospace Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, China, 2018
Courses Taught
Collaborative Robot Operations and ProgrammingCourse Number: INEN 5301-05
Semesters Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2025, Fall 2026
Hands-on course covering fundamental concepts of industrial robotics including kinematics, programming, and collaborative robot operations. Students gain practical experience programming a UR10e cobot using the PolyScope X interface. Upon completion, students earn the "Educational Robotics Training — Core" certification from Universal Robots Academy.
Simulation of Industrial Engineering Systems
Course Number: INEN 4375
Semesters Offered: Fall 2026
Introduction to discrete-event simulation as a modeling and decision-support tool for industrial engineering systems too complex for closed-form analysis. Covers the nine-step simulation study methodology, queueing theory fundamentals (Kendall notation, Little's Law, M/M/1, M/M/c, M/G/1), random number and random variate generation, manual spreadsheet simulation of a queueing system, and model building, verification, validation, and output analysis using Arena simulation software.
Advanced Robotics
Course Number: INEN 6301
Semesters Offered: Fall 2026
Doctoral-section companion to INEN 5301, sharing the collaborative-robotics curriculum and UR10e hands-on training at analytical and research depth. Extends the applied material with homogeneous transformations and DH forward kinematics, analytical inverse kinematics and the Jacobian, robot dynamics and force/impedance control, closed-loop control derivation and PID tuning, hand–eye calibration, and optimization-based robot cell design. Students also complete a literature review and an original UR10-based research project written in conference-paper format.
AR/VR in Manufacturing
Course Number: INEN 5301-01
Semesters Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2026
Explores the application of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality technologies in modern manufacturing systems. Topics include AR/VR hardware platforms, spatial computing, human-machine interaction, and industrial use cases such as remote assistance, digital twins, and operator training.
Introduction to Robotics
Course Number: INEN 5358
Semesters Offered: Spring 2025
Introductory course on robotics covering robot anatomy, coordinate frames, forward and inverse kinematics, trajectory planning, and basic control. Designed for graduate students with an engineering or computer science background.
Professional Seminar
Course Number: INEN 6110
Semesters Offered: Fall 2024
Graduate seminar providing professional development in engineering research, technical writing, and scientific communication. Students present research progress and engage with invited industry and academic speakers.