Haiyan Henry Zhang is a professor of Mechatronics and Mechanisms in the School of Engineering Technology at Purdue University. His work focuses on multidisciplinary system modeling in mechatronics and robotics, with an emphasis on integrating kinematics, dynamics, and control theory to better understand and design complex engineering systems.

Zhang was awarded a Fulbright Distinguished (Senior) Scholar Fellowship for his project, Augmented Screw Theory Based Multidisciplinary Mechatronics System Modeling and Its Approximation. The project develops an augmented screw theory framework to support advanced modeling of mechatronics and robotics systems, bridging multiple engineering domains and enabling improved approximation methods. A key application of this work is in the development of medical mechanisms and devices, with the broader goal of improving system design and control in complex real-world environments.

Zhang holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor (1996), an M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Oakland University (2007), an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Neural Network) from the University of Akron (1991), an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Electro-Hydraulic Control) from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (1986), and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (1983).

His recent publications include:

Yi Yang, Haiyan Henry Zhang. Optimal model reference adaptive fractional-order proportional integral derivative control of idle speed system under varying disturbances. Journal of Systems and Control Engineering, 2024.