Nasser Lashgarian Azad

Nasser Lashgarian Azad is a Professor and Associate Chair (Graduate Studies) in the field of Automation and Control Systems at the University of Waterloo. His research focuses on advanced control strategies for autonomous and connected vehicles, including reinforcement learning, model predictive control (MPC), and cybersecurity. He specializes in vehicle dynamics, energy management systems, and decision-making algorithms for complex scenarios such as platooning, collision avoidance, and shared spaces.

His work spans interdisciplinary applications in automotive, aerospace, and robotics, with contributions to hybrid electric vehicle optimization, cyber-physical systems security, and real-time trajectory control. Key areas of interest include autonomous navigation, resilient control systems, and the integration of AI with traditional control methodologies.

Dr. Azad has published extensively on topics such as deep reinforcement learning for autonomous driving, secure vehicle platooning, and adaptive cruise control. His research emphasizes practical implementation, with experimental validations in domains like electric vehicle energy management, lane-changing algorithms, and roundabout navigation.

He is actively involved in advancing control systems for connected and automated vehicles, addressing challenges in safety, efficiency, and scalability. His contributions have been applied to both ground vehicles and space systems, reflecting a broad expertise in dynamic systems and intelligent control.