Hung Phan Le

Mechanical and mechatronics engineer with experience across mechanical design, engineering analysis, prototype development, instrumented testing and practical troubleshooting. Experienced in taking engineering concepts from requirements through engineering analysis, practical CAD design, prototype fabrication and physical testing, with refinement informed by experimental evidence. Hands-on experience developing, assembling and operating purpose-built test setups integrating pneumatic actuation, sensors, load cells, data acquisition and robotic equipment.

Experienced in laboratory, workshop and field activities, working with technicians, researchers and external partners to resolve practical engineering problems safely.

PhD Candidate at University of Waikato (2023-02 – Present)

PhD research within MBIE-funded project

• Measured fruit detachment behaviour, fruit geometry and contact friction under orchard and laboratory conditions and then used analytical calculations to derive gripping-force, displacement and geometric design requirements.
• Led the iterative mechanical development and validation of a robotic harvesting end effector, using these field-derived requirements to guide concept development, prototype design and experimental evaluation.
• Used SolidWorks, Altair HyperWorks/OptiStruct topology optimisation and ANSYS FEA to refine designs for structural performance, manufacturability and physical testing.
• Designed, built and operated purpose-built instrumented test rigs integrating pneumatic actuation, load cells, sensors, Arduino-based data acquisition and a UR5 robotic platform; calibrated instrumentation and supported reliable experimental operation.
• Validated predicted mechanical behaviour using DIC and load-cell measurements, comparing numerical and experimental responses to support engineering decisions and subsequent design refinement.
• Designed and assembled prototypes, fixtures and test components using additive manufacturing and workshop-based fabrication, supporting laboratory and cyclic durability testing.
• Independently planned and delivered laboratory and orchard testing, investigated mechanical and test-system failures, and adapted methods and equipment when results or operating conditions differed from expectations.
• Maintained annual hazard and risk registers for three engineering laboratories and coordinated safe laboratory, workshop and field activities with technicians and researchers.

Casual Research Support at University of Waikato (2026-06 – Present)

Lecturer — Department of Mechatronics Engineering at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (2019-07 – 2023-01)

• Delivered practical laboratories in hydraulics, pneumatics and industrial robotics, including equipment setup, system operation and introductory PLC-based control.
• Supervised engineering projects and undergraduate theses from requirements definition through mechanical design, prototyping, testing, troubleshooting and technical reporting.
• Contributed to applied machinery R&D and worked with SMC technical staff, completing training in pneumatic and electro-pneumatic systems.

Lecturer — Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Can Tho University (2015-08 – 2019-07)

• Designed, prototyped and tested agricultural machinery from concept through fabrication and physical testing, including lotus-seed processing and chilli stem-separation equipment.
• Supervised engineering projects involving mechanical design, fabrication, testing, troubleshooting and technical reporting.

Research Assistant — Robot Research Initiative at Chonnam National University (2013-03 – 2015-02)

• Developed and tested real-time motion-control algorithms using MATLAB and C++ on a prototype 6-DOF robotic system with optical tracking.
• Integrated real-time measurement, signal processing and control-system data, and analysed system performance using experimental results.

Lecturer — Mechanical & Electrical Engineering at Ho Chi Minh City College of Technology (2012-10 – 2013-02)

• Delivered undergraduate teaching in sensors, measurement principles and basic electronics, including practical circuit and instrumentation work.

Lecturer — Mechanical & Electrical Engineering at Ho Chi Minh City College of Technology (2015-03 – 2015-07)

• Delivered undergraduate teaching in sensors, measurement principles and basic electronics, including practical circuit and instrumentation work.

PhD in Mechanical Engineering – University of Waikato (2023-01 – 2026-09)

Master of Engineering (with thesis) in Engineering – Chonnam National University (2013-01 – 2015-01)

Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering in Mechatronics Engineering – HCMC University of Technology and Education (2008-01 – 2012-01)