Publications

You can also find my articles on my Google Scholar profile.

📘 Book

Z. Li and Z. Ding, “Distributed Optimization and Learning: A Control-Theoretic Perspective,” Academic Press, Elsevier, 286 pages, ISBN: 9780443216367, 2024.

🗓 2026 – Journal Articles

X. Fang, C. Huang, C. Zhang, X. Gao, Z. Li, C. K. Ahn, “A hierarchical control framework for autonomous subsea pipeline leak localization with a manned submersible vehicle,” IEEE Internet of Things Journal, in press, 2026.
H. Ma, Z. Li*, J. Wang, J. Yang and Z. Ding, “A Transformer-initialized dual-population evolution for large-scale task scheduling in heterogeneous distributed systems,” IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 3483-3494, 2026.
Z. Liang, M. Shen, Z. Li and J. Yang, “Leader-steered rigid formation control with visibility maintenance for multiple nonholonomic mobile robots,” IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics, vol. 56, no. 3, pp. 1747-1760, 2026.

🗓 2025 – Journal Articles

Z. Li, W.-H. Chen, J. Yang and C. Liu, “Cooperative active learning based dual control for exploration and exploitation in autonomous search,” IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 2221–2233, 2025.
Z. Li, W.-H. Chen, J. Yang and Y. Yan, “Dual control of exploration and exploitation for auto-optimization control with active learning,” IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering, vol. 22, pp. 2145–2158, 2025.
T. Gong, Z. Li, Y. Xu and Z. Ding, “Prescribed-time Convergent Distributed Multiobjective Optimization with Dynamic Event-triggered Communication,” IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics: Systems, in press, 2025.
Z. Liang, Z. Wang, Z. Li*, and J. Yang*, “Rigid geometry formation subject to visibility constraints using heading angle correlation based on leader-follower system,” IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering, vol. 22, pp. 15070–15082, 2025.
Q. Wan, T. Fan, Z. Li, Z. Ding, “Reinforcement learning-based fixed-time tracking control for nonlinear systems with asymmetrical guaranteed performance,” Neurocomputing, vol. 644, no. 130410, 2025.
T. Fan, H. Hu, Q. Wan, Z. Li and Z. Ding, “Fast finite-time consensus strategy for multi-agent systems based on switching of different protocols,” Journal of the Franklin Institute, vol. 362(8), no. 107686, 2025.
G. Tan, W.-H. Chen, J. Yang, X.-T. Tran and Z. Li, “Dual control for autonomous airborne source search with Nesterov accelerated gradient descent: Algorithm and performance analysis,” Neurocomputing, vol. 630, no. 129729, 2025.
Y. Dong, Z. Li, S. Ehsan, Z. Ding and X. Huang, “Nash equilibrium seeking in non-cooperative heterogeneous multi-robot systems via output regulation,” Neurocomputing, vol. 619, no. 129179, 2025.

🗓 2025 – Conference Papers

T. Gong, Z. Li, Y. Xu, Q. Wan and Z. Ding, “Privacy-preserving prescribed-time distributed time-varying optimization,” in Proceedings of the 30th International Conference on Automation and Computing (ICAC), 2025. [Best Theory Paper]
C. Cao, Z. Li*, T. Gong and Z. Ding, “Dual adaptive MPC for quasi-linear parameter varying systems,” in Proceedings of the 40th IEEE Chinese Control Conference (CCC), 2025.
Y. Yu, J. Jiang, W.-H. Chen, Z. Li and N. Lohse, “L-step-ahead active learning-based dual control for exploration and exploitation in auto-optimization,” in Proceedings of 19th IEEE International Conference on Control & Automation (ICCA), pp. 811–816, 2025.
T. Gong, Y. Xu, Z. Li, Z. Tang and Z. Ding, “Distributed time-varying optimization with inequality constraints via prescribed-time distributed average tracking,” in Proceedings of the 40th IEEE Chinese Control Conference (CCC), 2025.
C. Blum, K. Groves, Z. Li and O. Marjanovic, “UAV trajectory planning using constrained optimization of a tight b-spline envelope to reduce conservatism,” in Proceedings of the 26th TROS Conference (Towards Autonomous Robotic Systems), 2025.

🗓 2024 – Journal Articles

Z. Liang, M. Shen, Z. Li* and J. Yang, “Model-free output feedback path following control for autonomous vehicle with prescribed performance independent of initial conditions,” IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 1076–1087, 2024.
Z. Liang, C. Lyu, J. Zhao, Z. Li and Z. Ding, “Distributed fixed-time control for leader-steered rigid shape formation with prescribed performance,” IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics, vol. 54, no. 10, pp. 5708–5720, 2024.
Q. Wan, T. Fan, Z. Li and Z. Ding, “Event-triggered prescribed-time tracking for uncertain nonlinear systems with unknown control gain and output constraints,” Journal of the Franklin Institute, vol. 361(7), no. 106765, 2024.
Y. Xu, A. Parisio, Z. Li and Z. Ding, “Optimization-based ramping reserve allocation of BESS for AGC enhancement,” IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 2491–2505, 2024.

🗓 2024 – Conference Papers

Q. Wan, T. Fan, Z. Li and Z. Ding, “Optimal regulation of multi-objective continuous-time nonlinear switching systems,” in Proceedings of the 43rd Chinese Control Conference (CCC), pp. 1591–1596, 2024.
X.-F. Wang, Y. Yan, Z. Li, “Distributed robust seeking of Nash equilibria with applications to autonomous vehicles in mobile sensor networks,” in Proceedings of the 43rd Chinese Control Conference (CCC), pp. 1591–1596, 2024.

🗓 2023 – Journal Articles

Z. Li*, W.-H. Chen and J. Yang, “Concurrent active learning in autonomous airborne source search: Dual control for exploration and exploitation,” IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, vol. 68, no. 5, pp. 3123–3130, 2023.
Z. Li, W.-H. Chen, J. Yang and Y. Yan, “AID-RL: Active information-directed reinforcement learning for autonomous source seeking and estimation,” Neurocomputing, vol. 544, no. 126281, 2023.
Z. Liang, J. Zhao, Z. Li, Y. Wang and Z. Ding, “Adaptive sliding mode fault tolerant control for autonomous vehicle with unknown actuator parameters and saturated tire force based on the center of percussion,” IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, vol. 24, no. 11, pp. 11595–11606, 2023.

🗓 2023 – Conference Papers

S. Tang, W.-H. Chen, C. Liu and Z. Li, “New formulation of wave energy converter control using extremum seeking,” IFAC World Congress, vol. 56, no. 2, pp. 11705–11710, 2023.
Y. Dong, Z. Li, X. Zhao, Z. Ding and X. Huang, “Decentralised and cooperative control of multi-robot systems through distributed optimisation,” AAMAS '23: Proceedings of the 2023 International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems, pp. 1421–1429, 2023.

🗓 2022 – Journal Articles

Z. Li, B. Liu and Z. Ding, “Consensus-based cooperative algorithms for training over distributed data sets using stochastic gradients,” IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems, vol. 33, no. 10, pp. 5579–5589, 2022.
Z. Li, Z. Dong, W.-H. Chen and Z. Ding, “On the game-theoretic analysis of distributed generative adversarial networks,” International Journal of Intelligent Systems, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 516–534, 2022.
Z. Li, Z. H. Li and Z. Ding, “Distributed generalized Nash equilibrium seeking and its application to femtocell networks,” IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics, vol. 52, no. 4, pp. 2505–2517, 2022.
Z. Li, W.-H. Chen and C. Liu, “Review of UAV-based autonomous search algorithms for hazardous sources,” Scientia Sinica Informationis, vol. 52, no. 9, pp. 1579–1597, 2022.
Z. Dong, Z. Li, Y. Xu, X. Guo and Z. Ding, “Surrogate-assisted cooperation control of network-connected DFIG wind farm with maximized reactive power capacity,” IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 197–206, 2022.

🗓 2022 – Conference Papers

Z. Li, W.-H. Chen and J. Yang, “A dual control perspective for exploration and exploitation in autonomous search,” in Proceedings of the 2022 European Control Conference (ECC), pp. 1876–1881, 2022.

🗓 2021 – Journal Articles

Z. Li, Z. Dong, Z. Liang and Z. Ding, “Surrogate-based distributed optimisation for expensive black-box functions,” Automatica, vol. 125, no. 109407, 2021.
Z. Li and Z. Ding, “Distributed multiobjective optimization for network resource allocation of multiagent systems,” IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics, vol. 51, no. 12, pp. 5800–5810, 2021.
Z. Dong, Z. Li, Z. Liang, Y. Xu and Z. Ding, “Distributed neural network enhanced power generation strategy of large-scale wind power plant for power expansion,” Applied Energy, vol. 303, no. 117622, 2021.
Z. Dong, Z. Li, L. Du, Y. Liu and Z. Ding, “Coordination strategy of large-scale DIFG-based wind farm for voltage support with high converter capacity utilization,” IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 1416–1425, 2021.
Z. Dong, Z. Li, Y. Dong, S. Jiang and Z. Ding, “Fully-distributed deloading operation of DFIG-based wind farm for load sharing,” IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 430–440, 2021.
Y. Dong, Z. Dong, T. Zhao, Z. Li and Z. Ding, “Short term load forecasting with Markovian switching distributed deep belief networks,” International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems, vol. 130, no. 106942, 2021.
Y. Xu, Z. Dong, Z. Li, Y. Liu and Z. Ding, “Distributed optimization for integrated frequency regulation and economic dispatch in microgrids,” IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, vol. 12, no. 6, pp. 4595–4606, 2021.

🗓 2021 – Conference Papers

Z. Li, B. Liu, Z. Dong and Z. Ding, “Cooperative training over networks via consensus-based algorithms,” in Proceedings of the 40th IEEE Chinese Control Conference (CCC), pp. 5309–5314, 2021.

🗓 2020 – Journal Articles

Z. Li and Z. Ding, “Time-varying multi-objective optimisation over switching graphs via fixed-time consensus algorithms,” International Journal of Systems Science, vol. 51, no. 15, pp. 2793–2806, 2020.

🗓 2019 – Conference Papers

Z. Li and Z. Ding, “Distributed Nash equilibrium searching via fixed-time consensus-based algorithms,” in Proceedings of IEEE 2019 American Control Conference (ACC), pp. 2765–2770, 2019.

* Corresponding author