Meet VSD’s Editorial Advisory Board: Spotlight on Daniel Lau, Ph.D., IEEE Fellow and Pioneer in Machine Vision Innovation Over the next several months, Vision Systems Design will feature profiles of members of its editorial advisory board. We’ll kick off this series with Daniel Lau, Ph.D., a distinguished expert in machine vision and image processing whose career has spanned signal processing, digital halftoning, cutting-edge 3D imaging, and the integration of AI into practical engineering solutions. From his formative education at Purdue University and the University of Delaware to his pioneering research and entrepreneurial ventures, he has consistently pushed the boundaries of imaging technology. Dr. Lau is the Databeam Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, the university’s director of graduate studies, and a certified professional engineer. His work spans diverse applications, including fingerprint scanning, dairy-industry automation, pipeline inspection, and dental imaging. In 2026, Dr. Lau was elevated to IEEE Fellow in recognition of his contributions to digital printing and 3D imaging. He continues to lead innovative research exploring AI-driven world models for complex process recognition. His collaborative leadership style, enthusiasm for authentic community engagement, and forward-looking approach to AI make him a vital voice in the evolving field of machine vision. To learn more about Dr. Lau and his approach to innovation, I sent him a series of questions. I hope you enjoy this Q&A as much as I do. Editor’s note: The following Q&A may have been edited for style. Vision Systems Design (VSD): Can you share how your career path led you to specialize in machine vision and image processing? Daniel Lau, Ph.D. (DL): Two classes at Purdue, really. I took signal processing from Neal Gallagher, who's a legend in the field, and I was hooked. Then I took image processing from Jan