[UCI-CalIT2] Autonomous Vehicle Systems - Seminar May 20

Stuart A ROSS STUROSS@uci.edu
Mon, 19 May 2003 09:20:41 -0700


"Autonomous Vehicle Systems in Control Research and Education" 

Dr. Ioannis Kanellakopoulos*

Tuesday, May 20, 2003
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
McDonnell-Douglas Engineering Auditorium
 
ABSTRACT:  Rapid advances in computing and communications are making it
possible to introduce autonomous capabilities in vehicles operating on
the ground, in the air, in space, at sea, and even underwater.  These
capabilities can be utilized to enhance the performance and safety of
individual vehicles as well as to operate vehicles in formations for
specific purposes.
	In order to realize this potential, control must play a central
and critical role.  In this context, control includes not just the
algorithms themselves, but also the sensors and actuators that connect
the computers to the physical system.  This talk will describe research
that encompasses several aspects of the autonomous vehicle problem,
ranging from the theoretical to the very applied.  A focal point of this
research is the creation of theoretical tools for nonlinear control
design to address practical issues of interest in real-world
applications, such as significant nonlinearities, incomplete state
measurement, and design objectives that vary from one operating region
to the next.
	These tools have been used to create new solutions in
applications such as active suspension, steer-by-wire, and driverless
operation of commercial heavy vehicles.  The research was complemented
by the development of (1) a fully-automated Class-8 tractor/trailer
vehicle, (2) a new vehicle ranging technology using infrared sensors,
and (3) a unique all-electric vehicle, which was used as an experimental
platform for research on autonomous vehicles and for student class
projects on systems design.
	The talk will conclude with a brief description of recent
advances in modeling and optimization of semiconductor manufacturing
processes, and in mitigating crosstalk in DSL communication networks.

SPEAKER:   Dr. Kanellakopoulos is a technology leader with over 15 years
of experience in research, development, operations, and administration
in both academia and industry.  He currently is Founder and CEO of
Iperasys Inc., which develops technology for next-generation automotive
sensor systems.  He received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from
the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1992.  Upon
graduation, he joined the faculty of UCLA as Assistant Professor, rising
to the rank of Full Professor just seven years later.  He is the
recipient of multiple national and international awards in the field of
control theory and engineering, including the George S. Axelby
Outstanding Paper Award, IEEE Control Systems Society, that recognizes
the outstanding paper published in the society's technical journal
during the previous two-year period.  He has published extensively and
is the holder of eight patents.
 
*Dr. Kanellakopoulos is a candidate for the Cal-(IT)2 faculty position
in Intelligent Transportation Systems and Telematics.