Heike Lepke, M.Eng. serves as a Researcher and Lecturer within the Department of Electrical Engineering, Media and Computer Science at Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Amberg-Weiden. Her office is located in Room 204 at Fleurystraße 3, Amberg campus. Her research specialization centers on Software Development in Automotive Technology , focusing on practical applications of computer science within vehicle systems. This includes embedded software solutions and engineering methodologies specific to the automotive industry. Contact details: Phone: +49 (9621) 482-3621 Mobile: +49 162 9030648 Fax: +49 (9621) 482-4621 Email: h.lepke@oth-aw.de Additional resources: Automotive Team Website LinkedIn Automotive Team Profile
Holger Hermanns is a Professor of Computer Science at Saarland University in Germany, where he heads the Dependable Systems and Software group. He also serves as Scientific Director of Schloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz Zentrum für Informatik. His academic journey includes previous positions at Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Universiteit Twente in the Netherlands, and INRIA Grenoble Rhône-Alpes in France. He has served as Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at Saarland University from 2010-2012 and as Dean of Studies from 2004-2006. Holger Hermanns' research focuses on modeling and verification of concurrent systems, resource-aware embedded systems, compositional performance and dependability evaluation, and their applications to energy and space informatics. He is an outspoken proponent of proactive algorithmic accountability. His work bridges formal methods with practical applications in critical systems, particularly in the domains of cyber-physical systems and satellite networks. His recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on human oversight of AI systems, software doping detection, satellite network protocols, and explainable AI. There's a clear trend toward addressing practical challenges in dependable computing, with increasing focus on the societal implications of algorithmic decision-making and the environmental impact of computing systems. Holger Hermanns has received numerous prestigious awards and recognitions: ERC Advanced Grant POWVER ERC Proof-of-Concept Grant LEOpowver Member of Academia Europaea (elected 2013) German "Preis des Fakultätentages Informatik" award (2013) Dutch "Vernieuwingsimpuls" award (2001) ERC Advanced Grantee Co-spokesperson of the Center for Perspicuous Computing, SFB TRR 248 As Scientific Director of Schloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz Zentrum für Informatik, Hermanns plays a crucial role in fostering international collaboration in computer science research. His leadership extends to various program committees and steering committees of major conferences in formal methods and theoretical computer science, including TACAS (steering committee since 2015), LICS (steering committee 2020-2023), and ICALP (steering committee 2020-2022). He has served as conference chair for LICS and ICALP in 2020. His research group at Saarland University focuses on dependable systems and software, with strong connections to both theoretical foundations and practical applications.
Hovannes Kulhandjian is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at California State University, Fresno (Fresno State), within the Lyles College of Engineering. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in electrical and computer engineering and conducts research in wireless communications, applied machine learning, and their applications in transportation and agriculture. His educational background includes: Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo (2014) M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo (2010) B.S. in Electronics Engineering with high honors (magna cum laude) from the American University in Cairo (2008) Dr. Kulhandjian's research spans wireless communications, applied machine learning, and their applications. His work in intelligent transportation systems includes AI-based road inspection and pedestrian detection, while in precision agriculture, he develops drone-based systems for weed detection and tree health monitoring. He also explores underwater acoustic communications, visible light communications, and physical layer security. His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend in applying artificial intelligence to solve real-world problems in transportation and agriculture, often using drones and multi-sensor fusion. In communications, he advances techniques for next-generation wireless systems, including OTFS and NOMA for 6G, and optical wireless for IoT. Scientific awards and honors: IEEE Senior Member Outstanding Reviewer Award from ELSEVIER Ad Hoc Networks Outstanding Reviewer Award from ELSEVIER Computer Networks Claude C. Laval Award for Innovative Technology and Research Dr. Kulhandjian advises Master's students through thesis (ECE 299) and project (ECE 298) courses. His research is supported by multiple grants, including the Department of Defense Research and Education Program, NSF-ADVANCE Research Alliance Seed Grant, CSU-WATER Faculty Research Incentive, and the Fresno State Transportation Institute SB1 Research Grant for six consecutive years. During his doctoral studies, he worked in the Wireless Networks and Embedded Systems (WiNES) Laboratory at SUNY Buffalo. At Fresno State, he leads a research group focused on the development of innovative solutions in wireless communications and AI applications, collaborating with various institutions and industry partners.
Katharina Polanec serves as a Researcher at the Centre for Dependable Systems Engineering, St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, and is an active co-investigator in the Josef Ressel Centre for Dependable System-of-Systems Engineering (DeSoS) project (2020-2025), focusing on critical infrastructure systems development. Her research expertise spans: System of Systems Engineering Smart Grid Architecture Model-Based Systems Engineering Cyber-Physical Systems Automotive Systems Reference Architectures With particular emphasis on interoperability frameworks, regulatory compliance mechanisms, and dependable systems modeling for energy and transportation infrastructure. Recent publications (2024) demonstrate concentrated activity in cross-domain architectural integration, EU AI Act compliance engineering, and co-simulation taxonomies, reflecting evolving research trajectories toward legally compliant cyber-physical systems and automotive-smart grid interoperability solutions. As part of the DeSoS project team, she contributes to advancing dependable system-of-systems engineering methodologies through collaborative research with principal investigator Christian Neureiter and colleagues across multiple engineering disciplines.
Prof. Dr. Hartmut Paschen is a Professor of Mechatronics at Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences (HS Ruhrwest), where he has been serving since April 2013. He is the Head of the Bachelor's program in Mechatronics and is affiliated with the Institute of Measurement and Sensor Technology. His office contact information includes email at hartmut.paschen@hs-ruhrwest.de and phone number +49 208 88254-394. Prof. Paschen was born in 1966 and studied Electrical Engineering at TH Darmstadt with a focus on Electromechanical Constructions. He completed his Diplom-Ingenieur degree in 1994 and then worked as a scientific researcher at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering) in the field of automation technology. He completed his doctorate in 1999 with the dissertation "Vollständig verteiltes SPS-System auf der Basis einer horizontalen Kommunikation in der Sensor/Aktorebene" (Fully distributed PLC system based on horizontal communication in the sensor/actuator level). Prof. Paschen's research interests center around mechatronic systems, with particular focus on: Embedded Mechatronics and control systems Electrical drive technology and motor control Sensor technology and measurement systems Automotive electronics and control units Distributed control systems and horizontal communication in sensor/actuator levels Development of universal test stands for small electric motors His current research projects include the development of a universal test stand for small electric motors, control of brushless and brushed DC motors (including hardware, software, and sensorless methods), and embedded mechatronics applications. Well-equipped laboratories for mechatronics and drive technology are available for these research activities. Prof. Paschen's publication record shows a strong focus on motor control systems, circuit design for automotive applications, and distributed control systems. His work spans from fundamental research in control theory to practical applications in the automotive industry. The evolution of his publications demonstrates a progression from theoretical work on distributed PLC systems to applied research in automotive electronics and motor control. His recent work (2018) shows continued interest in reconfigurable distributed control systems using software agents, indicating an adaptation to modern software engineering approaches in industrial automation. Prof. Paschen's technical competencies include: Hardware and software development of automotive control units Automotive industry development processes and Automotive Spice Drive technology control Microcontroller technology / Embedded Systems Measurement technology (automotive and industrial) Before joining academia, Prof. Paschen spent 14 years in the automotive industry working on series development of control units for mechatronic systems, eventually becoming head of the "Electronics for Adjustment Systems" department. This industry experience has strongly influenced his practical approach to mechatronics education and research. At Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Paschen teaches courses including: Introduction to Mechatronics Embedded Systems Mechatronics Project Work Electrical Drive Technology Measurement Technology Electrical Engineering
Mariusz Graba serves as a Lecturer at the Department of Mechatronics of Vehicles and Machines, Opole University of Technology, where he maintains active teaching responsibilities including student consultations and course scheduling. His research focuses on interdisciplinary engineering domains, particularly: Advanced measurement systems and diagnostic techniques for vehicles Embedded systems development through microcontroller programming Real-time data communication via automotive data buses Mathematical modeling of dynamic control objects Algorithmic synthesis for precision control systems His work bridges theoretical control theory with practical mechatronic applications in automotive engineering.
Prof. Dr. Klaus Bengler is Full Professor and Chair of Ergonomics at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) , located within the TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan in Garching, Germany. He leads research and teaching activities that integrate human factors engineering with cutting-edge topics such as automated driving, digital twins, and human-centred production systems. Education : While specific degrees are not detailed, his title “Prof. Dr. phil.” indicates a doctoral degree in philosophy or a related discipline and the venia legendi required for a German professorship. Research Interests Human–Machine Interaction – developing user-centred interfaces for complex technical systems. Automated & Connected Driving – studying driver behaviour, trust, and safety in conditionally and fully automated vehicles. Digital Twins & Cyber-Physical Systems – leveraging virtual replicas to sustain long-living human-machine systems in construction and production. Lean Ergonomics – integrating lean management and ergonomics to foster resilient socio-technical production environments. Remote & Teleoperated Systems – analysing human reliability, organisational structures, and interface design for teleoperation. VR/AR Applications – employing immersive technologies for ergonomic design and training. Across more than 35 peer-reviewed publications from 2023–2025, a clear thematic trajectory emerges: leveraging human-centred design to shape the safe introduction of automation across road transport, aviation, and industrial production. Studies repeatedly address longitudinal adaptation, risk-aware AI, pedestrian interaction with automated vehicles, and the organisational embedding of new technologies. Scientific Awards No specific honours or prizes are mentioned in the supplied text. Advising & Funding Landscape While individual student names are not provided, the Chair of Ergonomics hosts a dynamic research group engaged in numerous large-scale projects, including federally funded initiatives on teleoperation and KI-Fabrik. These projects typically involve interdisciplinary consortia with industry partners such as BMW, enabling extensive graduate-level supervision. Laboratories & Teams Prof. Bengler directs the Chair of Ergonomics (www.ergonomie.tum.de), which maintains state-of-the-art facilities: multi-driver connected simulators, VR/AR labs, instrumented vehicles, and industrial demonstrators within the KI-Fabrik pilot plant. The team comprises post-doctoral researchers, doctoral candidates, technical staff, and student assistants working in tight collaboration with national and international partners.
José Manuel Ferreira Machado is a Full Professor in the Department of Informatics at the School of Engineering, University of Minho, where he has been affiliated since 1988. He previously served as Director of the ALGORITMI R&D Center (2018-2024) and Associate Director (2016-17). He is a founding member and leader of ALGORITMI's 'Computer Science and Technology' research line and founder of the 'Knowledge Engineering' research group. He also served as Director of the CCTC-Center for Computer Science and Technology (2013-2015) and is currently coordinator of the ERASMUS program in Medical Informatics at the University of Minho. His research interests focus on applying scientific R&D to industrial domains and public services, particularly in healthcare, courts, and city councils. He has pioneered work in healthcare informatics, developing the AIDA platform (Agency for Interoperation, Dissemination and Medical Information Archives) currently operating in multiple Portuguese hospitals. His work spans healthcare interoperability, business intelligence applications in medical settings, electronic health records, data mining for medical decision support, and augmented reality applications in healthcare. He has made significant contributions to the openEHR standard implementation in healthcare systems. His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward integrating AI and data science in healthcare applications, with emphasis on interoperable systems, disease screening, medical diagnostics, and patient monitoring. His work increasingly focuses on applying transformer models, NLP techniques, and augmented reality to solve healthcare challenges. The publications also show expansion into educational technology, urban mobility analysis, and automotive applications of TinyML. Hospital of the Future 2007 Hospital of the Future 2008 Hospital of the Future 2009 Good Practices in Health 2014 Portugal Digital Awards 2021 IHF Awards 2021 Professor Machado has supervised 16 PhDs, 101 MSc, and 4 post-doc students, and currently supervises 5 PhD students, 32 MSc students, and 2 post-docs across Biomedical Engineering, Informatics, Informatics and Law, and related fields. He leads research projects including PRR agendas GReenAuto and Be.Neutral, and has collaborated with Bosch Car Multimedia. His work is conducted primarily within the Knowledge Engineering research group at ALGORITMI, which he coordinates. He has served as evaluator for research projects from scientific entities in Canada, Switzerland, Peru, UAE, and Portugal, as well as for the European Science Foundation and ALBAN program. He leads the Knowledge Engineering research group at ALGORITMI Research Centre and has been instrumental in developing the AIDA platform infrastructure that operates across multiple Portuguese hospitals. His work bridges academic research with practical healthcare applications, focusing on creating interoperable systems that can be deployed in real-world medical settings.
Maliheh Sadeghi Kati is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Chalmers University of Technology, affiliated with the Mechatronics research group. She collaborates with Volvo Trucks on industry-focused projects, contributing to applied research in automotive systems. Mechatronics Control Systems Automotive Engineering Embedded Systems Robotics Sensor Technology Contact: maliheh.sadeghi.kati@chalmers.se
Kenichi Nakashima is Professor at Waseda University’s School of Social Sciences, Tokyo, specialising in production management, supply-chain control, quality management and environmentally conscious manufacturing. He previously served as Professor and Senior Advisor to the President at Kanagawa University and as Visiting Assistant Professor at MIT’s Laboratory for Manufacturing & Productivity. He is Vice-President of the Japan Industrial Management Association, a board member of the International Foundation for Production Research, and serves on the Deming Prize Selection Committee. Education: Ph.D. in Engineering Research interests span social-systems engineering, supply-chain management, JIT/kanban systems, remanufacturing, closed-loop logistics, Industry 4.0 applications with IoT, and environmental management systems. His recent work integrates data-driven optimisation with sustainable manufacturing and digital-transformation strategies. Across 43 Scopus-listed papers (h-index 12, 518 citations) his publications analyse stochastic production control, multi-kanban policies, warranty/maintenance of sensor-embedded products, pricing of IoT-based services, and risk mitigation in global supply networks. He has co-authored multiple books including Introduction to Manufacturing Management and Responsible Manufacturing . Selected honours: Japan Industrial Management Association Encouragement Award 1996 He currently leads a Grant-in-Aid project on environmentally conscious SCM for a super-smart society (2020-2024) and has completed SIP and JSPS projects on supply-chain resilience, remanufacturing market diffusion, and green factory models. He teaches Production Systems, Global Supply-Chain Management, TQM and Informatics at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
E. Alonso is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at City, University of London, with extensive contributions to artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cognitive science. His work spans theoretical foundations of AI, practical applications in power systems, automotive diagnostics, and ethical considerations in generative AI. Faculty member at City, University of London since at least 2010 Active researcher with publications extending through 2025 Collaborates extensively with researchers in AI, power systems, and cognitive science Regular presenter at major AI conferences including IJCAI, AAAI, and IEEE conferences Professor Alonso's research focuses on the intersection of theoretical AI and practical applications. His work in neural networks spans reinforcement learning, time series forecasting, and multi-agent systems. He has made significant contributions to understanding the mathematical foundations of AI systems, particularly in agent representations and learning mechanisms. His recent work increasingly addresses the ethical and legal implications of AI, particularly concerning copyright issues in generative AI training and moral value alignment in democratic AI systems. Analysis of Professor Alonso's recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong trend toward practical AI applications with theoretical grounding. His work spans multiple domains including power systems optimization using graph neural networks, automotive diagnostics with specialized neural architectures, and creative AI approaches to generalization. A notable pattern is his ability to bridge theoretical AI concepts with real-world engineering problems, particularly in energy systems and automotive applications. His research increasingly incorporates ethical considerations, reflecting the growing importance of responsible AI development. Professor Alonso has supervised numerous students who have gone on to publish with him in top venues. His collaborative approach is evident in the diverse range of co-authors across different disciplines. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the provided materials, his sustained publication record across multiple domains suggests successful funding acquisition for his research programs. His work appears connected to the Centre for Computational and Animal Learning Research, suggesting involvement in interdisciplinary teams exploring the connections between biological learning systems and artificial intelligence. Recent collaborations with researchers in medical imaging and radiotherapy implementation further demonstrate the breadth of his research impact across different application domains.
Dr. Yee Ling Boo is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Accounting, Info Sys & Supply Chain at RMIT University in Australia. Her research focuses on Artificial Intelligence, Image Processing, Information Systems, Finance, and Business Analytics . She actively supervises Masters and PhD students in projects related to Large Language Models for Policy Analysis, Machine Learning in Social Services, and AI Readiness . Her teaching interests include Data Mining, Big Data, Business Analytics, and Cognitive Computing with applications across Business, Health, and Education . Recent publications highlight her work in Automated vehicle damage detection using AI Configurational approaches to cloud service provider selection Multimodal frameworks for car damage localization Decision-making agility through embedded analytics Community detection in multi-layer dark networks She has developed innovative methods for unsupervised expertise estimation in crowdsourcing , feature selection in imbalanced data , and Shari'ah-compliant stock analysis , with applications spanning fraud detection, spammer analysis, and educational technology . Her work bridges theoretical advancements with practical implementations for industry partners like Carsales and Baptcare .
Jalil Boudjadar is an Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Aarhus University. His research focuses on cyberphysical systems, embedded systems, and AI optimization with applications in automotive, robotics, and energy systems. Cyberphysical Systems & Digital Twins Embedded AI & FPGA Acceleration Real-Time Systems & Dynamic Scheduling Formal Methods for Safety/Security Current projects include ACCURATE (resilient manufacturing through digital twins, 2024-2026), DigiGlass (sustainable glass fiber manufacturing, 2023-2024), and Embedded AI research (2022-2025). His work bridges hardware/software co-design, machine learning, and industrial sustainability across domains like automotive, robotics, and smart manufacturing.
Christian Dietrich is a Professor at the Technische Universität Hamburg (TUHH) in the Operating System Group (OSG) . His research focuses on Operating Systems , Real-Time Systems , and Embedded Systems , with specific interests in Software Fault Tolerance , Memory Management , and Software Variability . Projects: ParPerOS (Parallel Persistency OS), ATLAS (Adaptable Thread-Level Address Spaces), CLASSY-FI (Cross-Layer Fault Injection), AHA (Automated Hardware Abstraction), CADOS (Configurability-Aware OS) Supervised Theses: 10+ completed theses on topics like io_uring Integration , Heterogeneous Multi-Core , Virtual Memory Primitives , and Fault Injection His recent publications (2022-2024) address Heterogeneous Computing , Virtual Memory Interfaces , and Crash-Consistent Systems . He received awards including USENIX ATC 2017 Best Paper , RTAS 2015 Best Paper , and ISORC 2022 Outstanding Paper .
Amer Catic is a Researcher at the Department of Product Development, Chalmers University of Technology. He holds a PhD (2011) in knowledge management and product lifecycle management. His research centers on developing methodologies for lean product development in global contexts, emphasizing knowledge transfer and digital collaboration tools. Education: PhD in Knowledge Management and Product Lifecycle Management (Chalmers University of Technology, 2011). Research Focus: His work bridges knowledge management, lean methodologies, and digital innovation in product development. Key interests include: Knowledge reuse and engineering checklists Lean frameworks for distributed teams Digital tools (e.g., Pulse Methodology) for global project management Industrial applications in automotive and manufacturing sectors Publication Trends: His 15 most recent articles (2010–2021) focus on optimizing engineering workflows through knowledge reuse, checklist systems, and digital collaboration. Dominant themes include industrial case studies, educational gamification, and AI-enhanced process management. Projects: Smart modul för AI-analys under projekteringsfasen i säkerhetskritiska komplexa byggprojekt (Formas, 2024–2025) INGREPPI - Innovation genom etablering av plattformsbaserad utveckling (VINNOVA, 2016–2018) Visualisering och IT i produkt och produktionsutveckling (VIS-IT) (VINNOVA, 2012–2015)
