Keynote Speakers

Keynote Title: Mechatronic Design: A Port-Based Approach
Presenter: Job van Amerongen, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Twente

Synopsis:

In this presentation, we consider the integrated design of a mechatronic system. After considering the different design steps, it is shown that a port-based approach during all phases of the design supports a true mechatronic design philosophy. Port-based design enables use of consistent models of the system throughout the design process, multiple views in different domains and reusability of plant models, controller components and software processes. The ideas are illustrated with the conceptual and detailed design of a mobile robot.

Job van Amerongen studied electrical engineering at Delft University of Technology, where he obtained an MSc degree in 1971 and a PhD degree in 1982. From 1971-1973, he did his military service as an officer in the Royal Netherlands Navy. From 1973-1987, he was an assistant and associate professor at the Control Laboratory of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of Delft University of Technology, where he worked on applications of modern control theory, especially model reference adaptive control, in ship control systems and electrical power production systems. Since 1987 he has been a professor in control engineering in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Twente. From 1994-1998, he was dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. In the first half of 1999, he was on leave at the University of Newcastle in Australia. Since 2005 he also has been head of the Department of Electrical Engineering in the faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS).

His current research interests are applications of modern control theory, especially intelligent control, in mechatronic systems. As head of the control laboratory he is also involved in the research in modeling and simulation of dynamical systems and in embedded control systems. He is scientific director of the Cornelis J. Drebbel Institute for Mechatronics. He is member of the IFAC Technical Committee on Mechatronics, the IFAC TC on Marine Systems and an international member of the IEE/IMechE Mechatronics Forum Committee. He is editor of the IEEE Transactions on Mechatronics.
He is (co-)author of many papers on adaptive and intelligent control systems, mechatronics and automatic steering of ships, co-author of a book on adaptive control systems and author of three courses on systems and control of the Dutch Open University.
 

Keynote Title: Probabilistic Techniques for Mobile Robot Navigation

Presenter: Wolfram Burgard, computer science professor at the University of Freiburg and head of the research lab for Autonomous Intelligent Systems

Synopsis:

In recent years, probabilistic techniques have enabled novel and innovative solutions to some of the most important problems in mobile robotics. Major challenges in the context of probabilistic algorithms for mobile robot navigation lie in the questions of how to deal with highly complex state estimation problems and how to control the robot so that it efficiently carries out its task. In this talk, I will discuss both aspects and present recently developed techniques for efficiently learning a map of an unknown environment with a mobile robot using particle filters. I will also describe how the complexity of this state estimation problem can be reduced by actively controlling the vehicle. For all algorithms I will present experimental results that have been obtained with mobile robots in real-world environments. I will conclude the presentation with a discussion of open issues and potential directions for future research. 

Wolfram Burgard is a professor of computer science at the University of Freiburg and head of the research lab for Autonomous Intelligent Systems. His areas of interest lie in artificial intelligence and mobile robots. Burgard's research mainly focuses on the development of robust and adaptive techniques for state estimation and control. Over the past years, he and his group have developed a series of innovative probabilistic techniques for robot navigation and control. They cover different aspects such as localization, map-building, path-planning and exploration. Burgard has co-authored two books and published over 100 papers and articles in robotic conferences and journals.  
               

Keynote Title: Optical MEMS and its New Evolution

Presenter: Renshi Sawadan, Department of Intelligent Machinery and Systems, Kyushu University

Synopsis:

Optical MEMS is a target of interest for future ubiquitous devices and devices for nanotechnology fields. In this presentation, micro mirrors for optical communication and wearable Doppler blood flow sensor for human and animal monitoring, and very small positioning sensors for robots and precision motors, which are fabricated using optical MEMS, will be introduced and demonstrated. Challenges to their commercialization will also be presented.

Renshi Sawadan was born in Japan in July 1953. He received the BE, ME and PhD degrees from Kyushu University, Fukuoka-shi, Japan, in 1976, 1978 and 1995, respectively. In 1978, he joined the Electrical Communication Laboratories, NTT, Tokyo, Japan. He has been engaged in research on polishing of Si substrate, gettring of Si crystalline defects, fabrication of dielectrically siolated substrates (SOI substrate process), and optical MEMS, such as micromirror array, integrated optical displacement sensors, and integrated optical blood flow sensor.

Keynote Title: Intelligent Mechatronics: The State of the Art Issues and Future Trends

Presenter:  Ren C. Luo, President of National Chung Cheng University, Taiwan
 

Synopsis:

The mechatronics system is the integration of mechanical, electrical, information, communication and nano/micro level technologies in the design, manufacture and operation of industrial products and processes. The mechatronics system emphasizes the key factors in integration, intelligence and communication functions, which include actuators/sensors, control of mechatronic systems, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), mechatronic devices, human-machine interface/haptics, embedded computing and software engineering, networked and embedded mechatronics and design/integration methodologies for mechatronic systems, etc.

In this presentation, we will discuss the state-of-the-art of intelligent mechatronics and to present recent advances made in research results and perspectives of the future development in this multidisciplinary field of intelligent mechatronic systems.

Ren C. Luo (M’83–SM’88–F’92) received the PhD degree in electrical engineering from the Technische Universitaet Berlin, Berlin, Germany, in 1982. He is currently a University Chair Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and President of National Chung Cheng University in Taiwan. Previously, he was a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA, and Toshiba Chair Professor in the University of Tokyo, Japan.

His research interests include sensor-based intelligent robotic systems, multisensor fusion and integration, computer vision, micro/nano technologies, rapid prototyping, and advanced manufacturing systems. He has authored more than 300 papers on these topics, which have been published in refereed technical journals and conference proceedings. He also holds several patents. Dr. Luo’s awards include the IEEE Eugean Mittlemann Outstanding Research Achievement Award, 1996; the ALCOA Foundation Outstanding Engineering Research Award, NCSU, USA; National Science Council Outstanding Research Awards, 1998-1999, 2000-2001, 2002-2005; and the TECO Outstanding Science and Technology Research Achievement Award, 2001. Dr. Luo is currently editor-in-chief of IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics. He served as president of IEEE Industrial Electronics Society (2000-2001). He also served as president of the Chinese Institute of Automation Engineers, Convener of Automation Technology Division, National Science Council; adviser for the Ministry of Economics Affairs and technical adviser for the Prime Minister's Office in Taiwan.

He contributes regularly to international conferences by serving as general chair (IEEE IROS 1992, MFI 1994, IECON 1996, MFI 1999, ICRA 2003, IECON 2007, IROS 2010), program chair, and a program committee member, and offers short courses or tutorials and plenary/keynote speeches in various countries and research communities. Dr. Luo has been a Fellow of IEEE since 1992.

Keynote Title: Building Cooperative Autonomous UAV Teams: A “System of Systems” Approach

Presenter: Salah Sukkarieh, School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, University of Sydney

Synopsis:

The last decade has seen the successful implementation of UAV systems in both civilian and military circles. These platforms have proven to be complex in their own right; linking aspects of control and statistical theory with software, hardware, mechanics, dynamics and optimal algorithm development. The success of single vehicle UAV platforms has naturally led researchers to inquire about how to model, understand, design, develop and demonstrate “Systems of Autonomous Systems.” These comprise many (possibly heterogenous) autonomous systems interacting with one another (and possibly with humans) to achieve more complex mission goals (goals that may also change with time). The benefits include quicker response times and mission success, and robustness to failures in the system. Applications include surveillance, bush fire fighting and search and rescue. This talk will present the ongoing research and development work conducted at the ACFR over the last decade, focusing on why particular algorithms were used, how these algorithms allowed for the modular and scalable development of systems of autonomous systems, and the demonstration of these algorithms on a multi-UAV test bed as well as on a complex heterogenous system comprising of UAVs, UGVs and humans. The talk will present the current findings and on future directions within this exciting area.

Salah Sukkarieh is Aerospace Systems Research Program Leader at the University of Sydney. He earned his PhD from the University of Sydney in 2000. He is currently the director of teaching and learning at the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. He is the author of more than 45 journal and conference publications in the area of navigation and localization of autonomous systems with a focus on UAVs.