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Last Updated 09 Sept 2024

Dr Tukun Li is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Precision Technologies (CPT) and EPSRC Future Metrology Hub. He received his BSc in computing science from Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), China. Tukun was awarded a PhD in measurement science with a thesis entitled “Softgauges for Surface Texture” under Prof Jane Jiang DBE, DSc, FREng at the University of Huddersfield.

He has over 20 years of experience in measurement science and currently focuses on CAT (Computer-Aided-Tolerancing) and ISO GPS with AI and Big Data technology. ISO GPS (Dimensional and Geometrical Product Specifications and Verification) is an international symbol language for engineers and industry to express dimensional requirements in technical drawings. Tukun develops publications,  national/international standards, APPs, AI algorithms, and training courses in the field of ISO GPS.

Tukun developed several widely used software for the industry to help engineers quickly and accurately utilise the ISO GPS:

1) Software measurement standards for surface texture (£20K funded by DTI): distributed by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) as a UK national standard in length measurement; It has been used by world-leading metrology companies (e.g. Ametek Taylor Hobson Ltd.) to calibrate their metrology software.

2) Gongchabang ISO GPS APP: an award-winning app (PI, 4M CNY in partnership with Zhejiang University, QS 44) to help Chinese engineers use ISO GPS and ASME GD&T symbols in the drawing. Released in 2020, it is the Top 1 app in this field, with over 300K downloaded and 500 daily active users.

3) Smart Datum Selection system: an ontology-based expert system to automatically choose datum used for assembly (PI, 800K CNY, in partnership with Zhejiang University, Chengdu University of Information Technology, and NIO Ltd), is currently utilised by Nio Inc. (NYSE: NIO).

Tukun is also active in National and International Standardisation to improve ISO GPS. Tukun is a member of ISO Technical Committee TC 213 and an expert on many working groups: WG10 (Coordinate measuring machines),  WG 12 (Size), WG 17 (Facilitation of GPS implementation) and advisory group AG12 (Mathematics for GPS). He is a project leader of a new ISO document (ISO/TR 23605) and proposed to develop the first smart document of ISO GPS.

Tukun has co-authored four EC-funded online training courses for ISO GPS (www.cm-train.org), which have been translated into eight languages and employed for vocational training in the UK, Germany, Switzerland, France, Poland, Romania, Portugal, Italy, and South Africa.

He is a peer reviewer of many leading journals, a member of ISO TC 213, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA), a visiting professor at Chengdu University of Information Technology, a visiting professor at Huaqiao University, a member of European Group of Research in Tolerancing (E-GRT).

Apart from research, Tukun has been involved in teaching (1) Lecture and Tutorials on NFM 2167 Professional Studies and Info Tech (2) Supervision of final year projects.

• Knowledge representation of ISO GPS: description logic, ontology, knowledge graph, case-based reasoning, knowledge-based system, digital twins;
• Intelligent Software of ISO GPS: smart APP, computer-aided tolerancing, machine learning, multi-objective decision-making;
• Education in ISO GPS: Online training course; AI-powered on-demand training.

Current Project

• GPSV APP: UK EPSRC Future Metrology Hub – Innovation Project (in partnership with IMA Ltd, UK), £78K, 2023-2024, PI
• GD&T Scanner APP: UK EPSRC Future Metrology Hub – Innovation Project (in partnership with IMA Ltd, UK), £78K, 2023-2024, PI
• ISO/TR 23605: International Organization for Standardization (In partnership with Chengdu University of Information Technology, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Huaqiao University), 2023-2026, Project Leader

Current PhD students:

• Mr C Kong, PhD main supervision: Conformance checking of tolerance information in mechanical engineering drawing
• Mr Alastair McKinna, PhD co-supervision: Experimental Learning and Pedagogies for Engineering Education
• Mr J Zhi, PhD co-supervision: Tolerance Analysis for Digital Twins