Prof. Xiu-Tian YAN, (BEng, PhD, CEng, FIMechE, FIET, FHEA), is a Professor in Mechatronic Systems Technology, the Director of Space Mechatronic Systems Technology Laboratory (SMeSTech), Strathclyde Space Institute. He was the past Chairman of Robotics and Mechatronics TPN Executive Committee of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Vice-Chairman of Mechatronics Forum - the Vice Chairman of the Mechatronics Forum – an international mechatronics organisation established in 1992 and sponsored by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the UK.  

His research contributions include a systematic mechatronic system design methodology through the development of a novel ‘design process model’ and associated computer support tools for mechatronic systems design. This model is then applied and validated in developing mechatronic and robotic solutions to challenging problems found in

• agriculture through award nominated collaborative and innovative AgriRover for autonamous soil sensing and selective harvesting,
• space through award winning SIROM robotic connector design and data fusion InFuse as builidng blocks for future European space missions, 
• manufacturing with a SmartMan system for cake production and  
• recently construction with a sustainable and autonomous factory blueprint for future innovative renovation of social housing from Indu-Zero project.

He has published over 240 journal and conference papers and book chapters published in leading international journals and conferences in mechatronic system design and modelling, engineering system design, haptic system modelling, computer modelling and design support tools for mechatronic system development and applications of design process in several engineering disciplines, manufacturing and assembly, bio-structure modelling. He is the founding director of a research centre on mechatronic systems technology – SMeSTech. His research output impact has been realised through extensive knowledge exchange projects and recognised by the awards of National Judges Commendation Award for Knowledge Transfer Partnership Best Partnership Awards 2010, MCN Best Product of the Year 2009 and finalist for the John Logie Baird Innovation Awards.  

His recent collaborative work on SIROM – a European Space Robotic building block for future space missions, has been nominated then shortlisted as one of the three finalist papers for the best paper award in Category D Infrastructure at 2018 International Astraonautical Congress – the world largest ever space conference attended by over 6000 delegates. This is a result of selection process in which 341 entries were received and 69 interactive presentations have been shortlisted, and finally SIROM paper was shortlisted as one of the three finalists. His AgriRover collaborative project has also been nominated as one of the three finalist for the award for Collaborate to Innovate in Category: Energy, Efficiency & Sustainability by the Engineer Magazine. Two of his books have been rated as top 25% top 25% most downloaded eBooks in the relevant Springer eBook collection with a third book as top 50% most downloaded eBooks in the relevant Springer eBook collection. Prof Yan currently manages and hosts over 20 researchers within SMeSTech lab. He is the Chief Editor along with Prof. D Bradley, Prof. D Russell and Prof. P Moore of a new Springer Book entitled Reinventing Mechatronics - Developing Future Directions for Mechatronics.

Prof. Yan has been nominated for the award of Excellent Teaching for the award of Strathclyde Teaching Excellence in 2014 for "He is very skillful and hardworking teacher".