CV

Education

• Ph.D. in Mechatronic Engineering
  • Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2015 - 2023
  • Successive Master-Doctoral Program
  • Dissertation: “Research on Design and Optimization Methods for the Speed Performance of Autonomous Sailboats”
  • Advisor: Prof. Jiancheng Yu
• Joint Training Program
  • University of Science and Technology of China, 2015 - 2016
• B.Eng. in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
  • Dalian Ocean University, 2010 - 2014

Work experience

• Engineer
  • Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2025 - Present
• Postdoctoral Researcher
  • Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, 2023 - 2025
  • Co-advisor: Assoc. Prof. Zhengru Ren

Research Interests

• Autonomous Sailboats
• Marine Robotics
• Simulation-Based Optimization
• Adaptive Path Planning
• Learning-Based Control

Publications

High-fidelity process plant modeling of an unmanned sailboat with a wing sail based on multi-body dynamics

B. Peng, Y. An, M. Zhang, and Z. Ren^*. (2025). "High-fidelity process plant modeling of an unmanned sailboat with a wing sail based on multi-body dynamics." IFAC-PapersOnLine.

Estimating Semi-stationary Sea States through Wavelet-based Adaptive Segmentation of Ship Motions

Taiyu Zhang, Can Ma, Yang An, and Zhengru Ren^*. (2025). "Estimating Semi-stationary Sea States through Wavelet-based Adaptive Segmentation of Ship Motions." Ocean Engineering. In Press.

A coordinate coverage water area monitoring scheme for multiple unmanned surface vehicles in dynamic environments

M. Zhang, Z. Ren^*, Y. He, D. Li, L. Yang, and Yang An. (2025). "A Coordinate Coverage Water Area Monitoring Scheme for Multiple Unmanned Surface Vehicles in Dynamic Environments." 2025 IEEE International Conference on Unmanned Systems (ICUS).

Relative Motion Prediction for Integrated Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Installation Scheme Based on Data-Driven

Can Ma, Taiyu Zhang, Zongyuan Yang, Yang An, Xiang Yuan Zheng, and Zhengru Ren^*. (2024). "Relative Motion Prediction for Integrated Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Installation Scheme Based on Data-Driven." ASME 2024 OMAE.

Research on Design and Optimization Methods for the Speed Performance of Autonomous Sailboats (面向航速最优的无人帆船设计与优化方法研究)

Yang An.(2023). "Design and Optimization Methods for Autonomous Sailboats Targeting Speed Performance." Ph.D. Dissertation.

Optimising General Configuration of Wing-Sailed Autonomous Sailing Monohulls Using Bayesian Optimisation and Knowledge Transfer

Yang An^*, Feng Hu, Kuo Chen, and Jiancheng Yu^*. (2023). "Optimising General Configuration of Wing-Sailed Autonomous Sailing Monohulls Using Bayesian Optimisation and Knowledge Transfer." Journal of Marine Science and Engineering. 11(4), 703.

Towards a general design evaluation tool: The development and validation of a VPP for autonomous sailing monohulls

Yang An, Jiancheng Yu^*, Feng Hu, and Zhenyu Wang. (2022). "Towards a general design evaluation tool: The development and validation of a VPP for autonomous sailing monohulls." Applied Ocean Research. 121, 103053.

Autonomous sailboat design: A review from the performance perspective

Yang An, Jiancheng Yu^*, and Jin Zhang. (2021). "Autonomous sailboat design: A review from the performance perspective." Ocean Engineering. 237, 109753.

Path Planning for Multipoint Seabed Survey Mission Using Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

Yang An, Gaofei Xu, Chunhui Xu, Hongyu Zhao, and Jian Liu^*. (2017). "Path Planning for Multipoint Seabed Survey Mission Using Autonomous Underwater Vehicle." IEEE OCEANS Conference.

Professional Service

• Editorial Board Member
  • Journal of Sailing Technology
• Journal Reviewer
  • Ocean Engineering
  • Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization
  • Journal of Sailing Technology