Thomas Alberts

Summary

Thomas Alberts is a Professor & Interim Director in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Old Dominion University (ODU). He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology (1986), an M.S. and B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1983, 1982). His research focuses on control systems, robotics, structural dynamics, and Maglev technologies, with over 50 publications and $10M+ in grants. Key projects include the Urban Maglev Project and electromagnetic suspension systems.

• Educations:
  • Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Tech (1986)
  • M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1983)
  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1982)

Research Interests: Maglev systems, active/passive control of flexible structures, robotics, vibrations, biomedical applications, and aerospace engineering. His work emphasizes practical applications in transportation, energy, and healthcare.

Grants & Awards:

• Over $1.9M for the Urban Maglev Project (2002–2005)
• Excellence in Industrial Partnership Award (2010)
• Outstanding Faculty Award (1988)
• Multiple fellowships and visiting scholar roles (1990s)

Publications: 15+ recent articles span Maglev control, robotic systems, biomedical engineering, and structural dynamics. Notable work includes hybrid position feedback control and ANN-based quadrotor control.

Lab & Teams: Involved in Maglev system development and collaborations with industry (e.g., Bauer Compressors, NASA Langley). Member of the MAE Advisory Council.