Auto-collision avoidance systems Professors and Supervisors

Thor I. FossenView profile

Professor

Norwegian University of Science And TechnologyNorway

Thor I. Fossen is a Professor of Guidance, Navigation, and Control at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Engineering Cybernetics. He holds a PhD in Engineering Cybernetics and an MSc in Marine Technology. His research focuses on marine craft hydrodynamics, autonomous systems, inertial navigation, and cybersecurity of control systems. He is an IEEE Fellow and has authored influential textbooks such as the Handbook of Marine Craft Hydrodynamics and Motion Control . **Education**: PhD Eng. Cybernetics, MSc Marine Technology. **Research Interests**: Development of guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) systems for marine and aerial vehicles; cybersecurity for autonomous systems; inertial navigation algorithms; and robotics. Notable contributions include the Marine Systems Simulator (MSS), a widely used MATLAB/Simulink toolbox for vehicle control design. **Recent Trends in Publications**: Focus on autonomous surface/underwater vehicles, adaptive guidance laws, cyber-resilient navigation, and sensor fusion techniques. His work bridges theory and practice, with experimental validations on real systems. **Awards**: Automatica Prize Paper Award (2002), Arch T. Colwell Merit Paper Award (2008), IEEE Fellow (2020+). **Grants & Labs**: Co-founder of Marine Cybernetics AS and ScoutDI AS. Lead developer of MSS software. Active in collaborative projects involving dynamic positioning, wave filters, and cyber-physical systems security.

Official University Profile

Hazem H. RefaiView profile

Professor

University of OklahomaUnited States

Dr. Hazem H. Refai serves as the Williams Chair of Telecommunication and Networking and Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at the University of Oklahoma's Gallogly College of Engineering in Tulsa. His research bridges optical wireless communications, medical device coexistence, and intelligent transportation systems, with leadership roles in the Wireless Electromagnetic Compliance and Design (WECAD) Center and Innovative Traffic Systems and Solutions LLC. Education: M.S.E.E. from the University of Oklahoma (1993) Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma (1999) Research Focus: Dr. Refai pioneers optical wireless mobile communication systems using free space optics, medical device wireless coexistence for electromagnetic compliance, and vehicle-to-vehicle communication for auto-collision avoidance. His work on the Disaster Area Wireless Network (DAWN) and cognitive radio networks demonstrates practical applications in emergency response and spectrum efficiency, with recent expansion into fMRI real-time signal processing for neuroscience applications. Publication Trends: Recent publications (2022-2025) reveal a strategic interdisciplinary expansion where wireless communications expertise converges with biomedical engineering—evident in EEG/fMRI studies of stroke rehabilitation, epilepsy, and opioid dependence, alongside cardiovascular research on Floatation-REST. His group simultaneously advances wireless technology identification using dynamic mode decomposition and aerial network optimization for 6G infrastructure. Scientific Recognition: University of Oklahoma College of Engineering Brandon H. Griffith Faculty Award (2000) Best Paper Award, IWCMC 2013 (Cognitive Extensions to Existing Wireless Technology) OSPE Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award (2006) Multiple IEEE ComSoc student competition awards (2013-2015) 24th Digital Avionics Systems Conference Best Session Paper (2005) Mentorship & Infrastructure: Dr. Refai has successfully chaired 48 MS and 19 PhD students while developing five new ECE courses including RF Microelectronics and Wireless Networks. He directs the WECAD Center for medical device coexistence testing and founded Innovative Traffic Systems and Solutions LLC for intelligent transportation applications, supported by industry partnerships and FDA research appointments. Research Ecosystem: The WECAD Center conducts critical medical device coexistence research with the FDA, while his traffic systems company develops real-world solutions like the ODOT Radar System for traffic monitoring. His IEEE leadership (past Tulsa Chapter President) connects academic research with industry implementation in both telecommunications and healthcare domains.

Official University Profile

Gul N. KhanView profile

Professor

Toronto Metropolitan UniversityCanada

Dr. Gul N. Khan is a Professor in the Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University). He has held academic positions at the University of Saskatchewan, Nanyang Technological University, RMIT University, and Quaid-i-Azam University. His career spans over three decades with a focus on embedded systems , network-on-chip (NoC) , and heterogeneous computing . Education: Ph.D. (Imperial College, 1989), M.Sc. (Syracuse University, 1982), B.Sc. (UET Lahore, 1979) Dr. Khan’s research interests include hardware-software co-design , CPU-GPU systems , fault-tolerant computing , and smart RFID systems . His work has led to over 125 refereed publications and three US patents. His recent publications highlight advancements in GPU auto-tuning , NoC synthesis , and digital time interpolators . Despite being listed in a Google Scholar block with unrelated public health topics, these appear to be errors, as his core expertise remains in computer engineering. Dr. Khan has supervised numerous graduate projects in embedded systems and SoC design . He served as Program Director for Computer Engineering from 2004–2015 and leads the Microsystems Research Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Official University Profile

Tulga ErsalView profile

Associate Professor

University of Michigan-Ann ArborUnited States

Tulga Ersal is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan's College of Engineering. His work focuses on system dynamics and control, with applications in autonomous vehicles, energy systems, and human-autonomy interaction. He leads research at the 2019 Auto Lab in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and mentors PhD and Master’s students in fields like robotics, powertrain optimization, and biofeedback systems. B.S.E. from Istanbul Technical University (2001) M.S. and Ph.D. from University of Michigan (2003, 2007) Dr. Ersal’s research spans three core areas: Vehicle Systems: Autonomous/semi-autonomous navigation, trajectory planning on deformable terrains, and powertrain management Energy Systems: Battery modeling, fuel cells, microgrid optimization using extremum seeking Human Factors: Driver distraction modeling, cognitive workload estimation via eye tracking, and haptic shared control frameworks His publications often integrate control theory with real-world applications, emphasizing computational efficiency and robustness. Recent work includes terrain-adaptive trajectory planning (2025), Bayesian workload estimation (2024), and 3D terrain navigation algorithms (2023). He advocates for model fidelity and practical implementation in hardware-in-the-loop simulations. Scientific awards include: Kenneth M. Reese Outstanding Research Scientist Award (2018-19) UMOR Research Faculty Recognition Award (2016) Dr. Ersal's advising philosophy prioritizes individualized guidance, weekly one-on-one meetings, and collaborative group discussions. His students frequently present at conferences like the American Control Conference and ASME Dynamic Systems and Control Conference. Funding for student travel comes through Rackham Travel Grants, conference support programs, and research projects.

Official University Profile

Elena TortaView profile

Assistant Professor

Eindhoven University of TechnologyNetherlands

Elena Torta is an Assistant Professor in the Robotics section of the Mechanical Engineering department at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). Her research focuses on control and world modeling for collaborative robots, particularly in human-robot and robot-robot collaboration. She holds a PhD cum laude from TU/e and has extensive industry experience as a software architect at ASML, where she advanced to leadership roles in algorithm deployment. Her expertise spans multidisciplinary robotics challenges, including human-robot interaction studies and computational models for robotics control. Education: BSc in Computer Science and Automation Engineering (Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy) MSc in Automation Engineering (Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy; thesis research at Technical University of Denmark) PhD cum laude in Automation Engineering (TU/e) Research Interests: Her work integrates robotics, control systems, and artificial intelligence to enhance collaborative robotics. Key areas include semantic-aware motion planning, digital twin technology, multi-agent coordination, and safety-critical robotic systems. Recent advancements involve leveraging building digital twins for robot navigation and semantic learning from human demonstrations. Projects: She leads projects such as EAISI High Tech Systems, AMBER, and KSERA, addressing challenges in healthcare robotics and manufacturing. Her research contributes to UN SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure) and SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-being). Awards: PhD cum laude (2014) Advising & Grants: Supervised 36 students and secured funding through projects like EAISI startup package. Active in developing educational tools for robotics, including Challenge-Based Education frameworks. Labs & Teams: Engaged in TU/e's Robotics Lab and collaborations with EAISI, focusing on advancing robotics through interdisciplinary approaches.

Official University Profile

Alex AfanasyevView profile

Assistant Professor

Florida International UniversityUnited States

Dr. Alex Afanasyev is Assistant Professor at Florida International University's Knight Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences. His research develops Named Data Networking (NDN) architectures for IoT, vehicular networks, and secure distributed systems. Research creates scalable routing protocols, trust management frameworks, auto-configuration mechanisms, and security solutions for information-centric networks. Recent projects include Hydra federated storage, secure automotive networking, and NDN-based pedestrian safety applications. Leads NDN protocol development and contributes to standardization efforts. Recognized by UCLA Chancellor's Award for Postdoctoral Research. Research funded by NSF and industry partners.

Official University Profile

José Luis LimaView profile

Professor

Polytechnic Institute of BragançaPortugal

José Luis Lima is Coordinator Professor and Head of Electrical Engineering at Polytechnic Institute of Bragança. As vice-coordinator of the Research Centre in Digitalization and Intelligent Robotics, he leads projects in industrial IoT and autonomous systems. His research focuses on: Mobile robot localization and navigation Energy-efficient robotic systems Human-robot collaboration frameworks Industrial cyber-physical systems He developed the RobotAtFactory competition platform to advance Industry 4.0 education. Current projects include EU Horizon initiatives on sustainable manufacturing (PRODUTECH 4 S&C) and AI-driven healthcare (SmartHealth). With 280+ publications, his work integrates battery management systems for robots and vision-based industrial inspection platforms.

Official University Profile

Radu GrosuView profile

Professor

Vienna University of TechnologyAustria

Radu Grosu is a Full Professor and Head of the Cyber-Physical Systems Research Unit at TU Wien. His research focuses on modeling, analysis, and control of cyber-physical and biological systems, with applications in robotics, autonomous systems, medical imaging, and formal verification. He leads the Scuderia Segfault team for autonomous F1TENTH racing and has extensive collaborations with industry partners like TTTech Auto AG and FFG. His work integrates machine learning, control theory, and formal methods to address challenges in safety-critical systems and autonomous decision-making. Roles: Full Professor, Head of Research Unit, Faculty Council Substitute Member Affiliations: TU Wien, Scuderia Segfault, Austrian Science Fund (FWF) projects Research interests span cyber-physical systems (CPS), cardiac-cell networks, genetic regulatory networks, and AI-driven solutions for healthcare and manufacturing. He has pioneered methods in neural circuit policies, flocking control, and real-time reinforcement learning. His projects include EdgeAI for embedded systems, radiation treatment optimization in glioblastoma, and autonomous vehicle testing frameworks. Key contributions include: Developing Lagrangian reachability analysis for safety verification Advancing neuromorphic IoT architectures and sensor networks Creating tools like DeepSTL for translating requirements into specifications Grants include FFG-funded projects on autonomous driving examiners and energy-efficient neuromorphic systems. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical implementations in CPS resilience, medical diagnostics, and industrial automation.

Official University Profile

Naira HovakimyanView profile

Professor

University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUnited States

Naira Hovakimyan is the W. Grafton and Lillian B. Wilkins Professor of Mechanical Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), where she also directs the AVIATE Center and the Advanced Controls Research Laboratory (ACRL). She holds affiliations with departments including Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Aerospace Engineering. Her academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Physics and Mathematics from the Russian Academy of Sciences (1992) and an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Mechanics from Yerevan State University (1988). Her research focuses on adaptive control systems, robotics, safety-critical applications in aerospace and biomedical fields, and multi-vehicle unmanned systems. Key areas include safe learning-enabled systems, robust adaptive control, and certification protocols for autonomous systems. She has pioneered work on L1 adaptive control architectures with guaranteed transient performance. Prof. Hovakimyan has authored/co-authored over 500 publications, 13 patents, and two books. Her honors include the AIAA Pendray Aerospace Literature Award (2019), Humboldt Prize (2014), and awards for advising and translational research. She is a Fellow of AIAA, IEEE, and ASME. Her professional leadership includes roles as a cofounder/chief scientist at IntelinAir, advisory roles in industry and academia, and keynotes at major conferences like IROS and ICRA. She leads initiatives in translational research, bridging academic innovations to real-world applications in aviation, robotics, and cybersecurity.

Official University Profile