Open-source framework
FlowDesign
Extensible generative engineering design with flow models, geometry abstractions, objectives, constraints, and surrogate-guided workflows.
Advanced AI Engineer · CATL
Aobo Yang
I build physics-aware AI systems for engineering design—from battery materials and manufacturing to aircraft and satellite optimization.
I am based in Hong Kong and work at CATL, focusing on AI4Science for materials discovery in EV batteries and energy-storage systems, alongside manufacturing-process optimization.
I received my Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from HKUST, advised by Prof. Rhea Liem. I was also a visiting Ph.D. researcher at the EPFL Computer Vision Lab with Prof. Pascal Fua, and previously worked on multidisciplinary design optimization at UC San Diego, supervised by Prof. John Hwang.
01 / Selected work
Open tools and interactive engineering systems.
Interactive design studio
GenAero Studio
Operation-aware commercial-aircraft wing design, from route selection and multipoint extraction to generated candidates and 3D pressure visualization.
Interactive research
Multifidelity BEP Analysis
An interactive break-even analysis comparing repeated high-fidelity CFD optimization with reusable data-driven multifidelity surrogates.
02 / Research
Selected publications.
A selection from my CV spanning generative design, multifidelity learning, and operation-aware optimization.
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2025
Operation-Aware Aircraft Wing Design Using Cluster-Based Multipoint Aerodynamic Shape Optimization
Aobo Yang, Yuan Lyu, Jichao Li, and Rhea P. Liem · Journal of Aircraft
DOI ↗ -
2025
Dflow-SUR: Enhancing Generative Aerodynamic Inverse Design Using Differentiation Throughout Flow Matching
Aobo Yang, Zhen Wei, Rhea P. Liem, and Pascal Fua · Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization
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2025
Generalizable Multifidelity Aerodynamic Wing Shape Design Optimization
Aobo Yang, Jichao Li, and Rhea P. Liem · Journal of Aircraft
Paper ↗ -
2024
DeepGeo: Deep Geometric Mapping for Automated and Effective Parameterization in Aerodynamic Shape Optimization
Zhen Wei, Aobo Yang, Jichao Li, Michaël Bauerheim, Rhea P. Liem, and Pascal Fua · AIAA AVIATION
DOI ↗
03 / Honors
Awards & recognition.
All honors listed in my current CV.
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2024
AIAA MDO Best Paper Award
Annual best paper recognition in multidisciplinary design optimization.
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2024
AIAA AVIATION MDO Student Best Paper Award
Student best paper in the MDO technical discipline at AIAA AVIATION.
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2024
HKUST Best Teaching Assistant Award
Recognized for excellence in teaching assistance at HKUST.
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2023
AIAA AVIATION MDO Student Best Paper Candidate
Selected as one of six finalists in the MDO technical discipline.
04 / Service
Reviewer service.
Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence
Journal reviewer.
05 / Journey
Across AI, aerospace, and engineering design.
Present
Advanced AI Engineer · CATL
AI4Science for battery materials discovery and manufacturing-process optimization.
2024–2025
Visiting Ph.D. Researcher · EPFL
Computer Vision Lab, supervised by Prof. Pascal Fua.
2022–2025
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering · HKUST
Advised by Prof. Rhea Liem.
2020–2021
Strategic Planning Researcher · Chinese Academy of Sciences
Large-scale satellite constellations, mission architecture, and microsatellite system design.
2018–2020
M.S. · University of California San Diego
Large-scale multidisciplinary optimization of CubeSat swarms.
2013–2017
B.Eng. · Beihang University
Energy and Power Engineering.
06 / Contact