Peter D. Lawrence

Professor Peter D. Lawrence holds a faculty position at the University of British Columbia (UBC) within the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, part of the Faculty of Applied Science. He has been a Professor since 1974 and has held visiting research roles at Chalmers University of Technology (1970-1972) and MIT (1972-1974). His educational background includes a B.A.Sc. from the University of Toronto (1965), M.Sc. from the University of Saskatchewan (1967), and Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University (1970). He is a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) and Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (FCAE).

Research interests focus on improving human-machine interfaces, sensor technologies for control systems, and medical robotics. Key areas include teleoperation of heavy machinery, vision-based control, EEG-based brain interfaces, and functional approximation methods for complex systems. Collaborations span multiple disciplines at UBC, including Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Mining Engineering, and Forestry, with funding from NSERC and PRECARN/IRIS.

• Medical Robotics: Brain-computer interfaces and ultrasound-guided surgery.
• Autonomous Systems: Path planning and vision-based tracking for excavators and haul trucks.
• Sensing Technologies: Eye-tracking, joint-angle sensors, and slip detection for mobile robots.

His teaching contributions include coordinating the Project Integrated Program (PIP) for ECE students and co-developing the interdisciplinary New Venture Design course with the Sauder School of Business. He leads the RCL Lab and has authored books on real-time microcomputer systems and contributed to IEEE publications. Awards include recognition as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.