I’m Xiatao Sun, a PhD student in Computer Science at Yale University, working in the APOLLO Lab under the guidance of Dr. Daniel Rakita. Prior to Yale, I earned an MSE in Robotics from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. My research explores the intersection of spatial learning, artificial intelligence, and robotics. I leverage machine learning to generate spatial content—like scenes, meshes, and Gaussian splatting—and to develop spatial policies using methods such as diffusion, transformers, and vision-language-action models (VLA). I’m especially passionate about using spatial content generation to advance and scale policy learning for robotics, with applications extending beyond the field.
Education
- Yale University New Haven, CT, USA
- PhD in Computer Science Aug 2023 - May 2027
- Yale University New Haven, CT, USA
- MPhil in Computer Science Aug 2023 - May 2026
- Yale University New Haven, CT, USA
- MS in Computer Science Aug 2023 - May 2025
- University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA, USA
- MSE in Robotics Aug 2021 - May 2023
- GPA: 3.94/4.0
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Philadelphia, PA, USA
- B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Aug 2017 - May 2021
- GPA: 3.93/4.0
- Honor: Summa Cum Laude, Dean’s Honor List, Member of Tau Beta Pi
Knowledge & Skills
| Knowledge | Robotics, Machine Learning, Game Development, Web Development |
| Programming Languages | C, C++, C#, Python, SQL, MATLAB, HTML, JavaScript |
| Robotics Tools | ROS, CARLA, AirSim, OpenCV, GTSAM, CVAT, Unity Robotics Hub |
| Machine Learning Frameworks | PyTorch, MXNet, ML-Agents, Tensorflow, Rey, Spark ML |
| Game and Simulation Engines | Unity, Unreal Engine 4, MuJoCo, Gym |
| CAD Software | NX Unigraphics, SpaceClaim, Rhino, SolidWorks |
| 3D Modeling Software | Blender, Maya, ZBrush, Marvelous Designer, Substance Painter |
| Web Development Tools | Flask, SQLAlchemy, Vue.js, jQuery |
| Language | Mandarin, English |
| Other Technical Skills | Docker, LaTeX, LabVIEW, Lathe, Vertical Drill, Welding, FL Studio, Piano |
Awards & Activities
- Reviewer
- IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters
- IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation
- IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems
- IEEE International Conference on Vehicular Electronics and Safety
- Signal, Image and Video Processing
- Volunteer of 2023 Northeast Robotics Colloquium (NERC)
- Winner of the 2022 ITS World Congress Student Essay and Video Competition
- Student volunteer at 2022 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA)
- Co-founder and CTO of Qingdao Tian Yi Data Tech Co., Ltd.