CREOL Ph.D. student Yefu Zhang has been named a winner of the 2026 Robert S. Hilbert Memorial Optical Design Competition for his work advancing the design and simulation of augmented reality display technology.

Zhang, a doctoral student working with Pegasus Professor Shin-Tson Wu, received the award for his project, “End-to-end automated simulation framework of diffractive waveguide AR displays with LightTools and RSoft.”

The project focuses on the simulation of diffractive waveguides, optical components used in augmented reality displays to guide light from a display system toward the viewer’s eye. Zhang developed an automated framework using LightTools and RSoft, optical design and simulation software from Keysight Technologies, to support the modeling of these systems.

The Robert S. Hilbert Memorial Optical Design Competition, organized by Keysight Optical Design Engineering, recognizes excellence in optical design projects completed by undergraduate and graduate students across North America. Entries are evaluated for their application of optics, optical engineering and optical design software.

Zhang’s project was recognized for its creativity, technical excellence and innovation in optical design. The annual competition honors Robert “Bob” Hilbert, former president and CEO of Optical Research Associates, now part of Keysight Optical Design Engineering, and his contributions to optical design, engineering and education.

Zhang conducts research as part of Wu’s research group at CREOL, which explores technologies including augmented and virtual reality optical systems, microdisplays and advanced imaging optics.