Robotics and Automation

James Gunderson has completed his PhD from the University of Virginia and 2003. His research has focused on Artificial Intelligence and the effective application of the same in automated systems and robotics. He has focused on Artificial Intelligence applications for over 30 years, and been part of two successful robotics/automation start-ups. He is the Growth Director for GunderFish,LLC., which focuses on integrating cutting edge AI and predictive analytics with existing business flow. He has published more than 25 papers in journals and conferences.

Artificial Intelligence, Automated Systems

Dr. Petter Falkman received the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering in 2005 from Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden. Dr. Falkman is currently Associate Professor at the Department of Signals and Systems, Chalmers University of Technology. He received his Master of Science in Automation and Mechatronics at Chalmers in 1999. Dr. Falkman is program director for the Automation and Mechatronics program at Chalmers. He is also part of the Wingquist Laboratory, a research center for virtual product and production development at Chalmers. Dr. Falkman is a member of the editorial board of the journal Advances in Automobile Engineering.

His main research topic concerns information integration, virtual preparation, restart, verification, and optimization of production systems.

Farrokh Janabi-Sharifi received the PhD degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Waterloo, Canada in 1995. He is a Professor of Mechanical-Industrial Engineering and the Director of Robotics, Mechatronics and Manufacturing Automation Laboratory (RMAL) at Ryerson University, Canada. He has also been visiting professor in a few universities in Korea, Germany and France. He has published more than 190 refereed papers in the journals and conference proceedings, authored/coauthored several book chapters, and edited/co-edited four proceedings in the field. He serves as the Associate Editor of several journals including International Journal of Optomechatronics.

His research interests span over image-guided control and planning of robots

Dr. T. Tashtoush is an Assistant Professor of Engineering in Texas A&M International University (TAMIU), Laredo, TX. He got his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Systems and Industrial Engineering from State University of New York at Binghamton on 2013 and 2009, respectively and his B.S. in Electromechanical (Mechatronics) Engineering from Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST), Irbid, Jordan on 2005.

Currently, he is the faculty advisor and team lead for robotics and intelligent systems team and the Students Engineering Council in TAMIU. In addition, Dr. Tashtoush is the West Officer for the Corpus Christi Section of IEEE and the advisor and facilitator for the Youth Science Leader of Laredo organization.

Throughout his working experience and formal education in multidiscipline of engineering, he acquired a sound knowledge and experience of leading edge engineering principles, tools and practices in the field of simulation and systems design, production quality and management, lean manufacturing principles, robotics and automation, 3D printing processes, engineering statistical analysis, project management, optimization, instruments and electrical devices, reliability, Healthcare Systems, and Human Factors.

Dr. T. Tashtoush is Lean Six-Sigma Black Belt certified, he worked at Continental Automation Systems where he implemented Lean manufacturing and Six-Sigma principles, machine production control, preventive maintenance scheduling, and quality monitoring to reduce non-added value actions and increase productivity and the production lines’ throughput.

His research interests lie in the area of systems designs and optimization, production quality, electronics manufacturing, electronics reliability and robotics.

Professor Eduard Babulak is accomplished international scholar, researcher, consultant, educator, professional engineer and polyglot with more than thirty seven years of teaching experience and industrial experience as a professional engineer and consultant.

He was Invited Speaker at University of Cambridge, MIT, Yokohama National University and University of Electro Communications in Japan, Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China, Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea, University at West Indies and Penn State, USA.

He presented number of Keynote and Plenary Talks at prestigious IEEE/ACM events and universities worldwide. His academic and engineering work was recognized internationally by the Engineering Council in UK, the European Federation of Engineers and credited by the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers and APEG in British Columbia in Canada. He served as Chair of IEEE Vancouver, BC, Canada’s Ethics, Professional and Conference Committee, the Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editor, Co-Editor, and Guest Editor.

He is Fellow of British Computer Society, Fellow of Royal Society RSA in London, UK. He was nominated Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology in London, UK, and Distinguished Member of the ACM in USA. He is Mentor and Senior Member of IEEE and ACM, Professional Member of American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), American Mathematical Association (AMA) and Mathematical Society of America (MSA). He worked in lived on four continents. He speaks 14 languages and travelled extensively. His biography was cited in the Cambridge Blue Book, Cambridge Index of Biographies and number of issues of Who’s Who.

His research interests are in Cyber Security, Future Networks, Quality of Service, Smart Ubiquitous Computing, ICT, Applied Informatics, Industrial Automation and e-Transportation, e-Learning, and Applied Mathematics.

Karl Hirsch is President and CEO of TinMan Systems (www.tinmansystems.com), a Seattle WA based provider of software and professional services for the development and deployment of next generation artificial intelligence (AI systems).

With 27 years of experience in rapid growth, high-technology companies providing software and internet technologies, Hirsch is recognized as a pioneer in digital rights management (DRM) and electronic software distribution (ESD). In 1994, he personally programmed one of the earliest commercial software development kits (SDK) for remote software authentication, digital licensing and copy-protection technologies, which is still in use today by many companies. For the last 12 years, Hirsch has focused his attentions to pattern recognition and autonomous machine intelligence, where in 2010 he founded TinMan Systems. TinMan technology provides an innovative, user-friendly PC and web-based tools framework and deployment library to develop and integrate expert human-like decision making into commercial systems operating in dynamic environments.

Hirsch also served 2 years as chairman of the SIIA (Software and Information Industry Association) Internet and Electronic Distribution Division, and as CompTIA (Computer Trade Industry Association) Board member and RosettaNet architect. As a three-time CEO, Karl is familiar with all aspects of rapid business growth in early to mid-stage companies. He founded two internet technology companies, Preview Systems (IPO Dec\'99) and OneChannel.net. More recently, Karl was CEO of Protexis, where he worked with his team and investors to restructure and redirect the company into a leading global platform for distribution of digital content. This platform is used by Microsoft today to securely market and distribute its PC Windows OS and office software digitally. Hirsch successfully completed the sale of Protexis in 2009 to Bertelsmann AG, a multi-billion dollar global media company. Karl has also raised over $70m dollars in venture financing over the last 17 years.

Software and internet technologies

Dr. Mehrandezh received his Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toronto, and the Queens University in 1999 and 1995, respectively. He is currently an associate professor in the Industrial Systems Engineering program at the University of Regina, Canada. Mehrandezh’s research revolves around robotics, machine vision, and control. A pipe crawling robot co-invented by him was highlighted in the Popular Mechanics magazine as one of the 5 high-tech fixes to infrastructures in 2009. He also holds a patent on “design and development of an adaptable climbing machine”. Mehrandezh is a member of IEEE and served as the vice-president of the IEEE (south Saskatchewan section) for two consecutive terms. He is also a registered professional engineer (P. Eng.) in Canada.

Motion planning of co-operating robotic arms in dynamic environments, Autonomous sensor-based motion planning of robots (mobile and articulated), Computer integrated manufacturing, inspection, assembly, Remote control/analysis via Internet, Urban search and rescue robotics, Time-optimal rendezvous planning of co-operating robots for pick-and-place task sharing

Rhythm Wadhwa is a Professor of Manufacturing Automation and Design Engineering at NTNU, Norway. She is an expert in the area of flexible manufacturing automation, particularly in industries such as metalcasting, marine and oil/gas. She has worked on 3 books in industrial automation, sustainability & contracts and worked with major manufacturing and process control projects with Rolls Royce, Ford, GM, Kongsberg automotive, Hexagon, Suzuki and VW. A 2005 graduate from University of Michigan Ann Arbor, she is an Associate member of the French production society. She is an Editorial board member of the International Journal of Computer Science Issues, American Foundry Society and Elsevier Learning Factories. She is currently working on a book on policy and security for manufacturing industries.

Her research interests includes sustainability, policy, contracts and security,Quality and flexible manufacturing automation

HADJ BOURDOUCEN obtained his PhD degree from Ecole Centrale de Lyon, France, in 1987. Worked at the University of Science and Technology Houari Boumedienne (USTHB), Algeria, 1987-90, then at the National Institute of Electricity and Electronics (INELEC), Boumerdes, 1990-97. He joined Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) in 1998 where he served as Head of Department of Information Engineering, then as Head of Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering until 2007. He is presently a Professor at ECE Dept., and Director of Communication and Information Research Center (CIRC), SQU. His research activities and interests include Instrumentation, communication & networking, modelling, simulation & performance evaluation, integrated electronics and hardware design. In these areas he published over 120 research publications and edited several books and conference proceedings. Prof. Bourdoucen is an IEEE Senior member.

Instrumentation, communication & networking, modelling, simulation & performance evaluation, integrated electronics and hardware design

Dr. Mary Mehrnoosh Eshaghian-Wilner has over 26 years of research experience in various areas within the field of Computer Engineering. Additionally, she has worked in the area of patent law for several years. She has published numerous scientific papers, including two books, and has handled the prosecution and infringement analysis of many complex U.S. and international patents. Dr. Eshaghian-Wilner currently is a Professor of Engineering Practice at the Electrical Engineering-Systems Department at the University of Southern California (USC), and since 2004 has been an Adjunct Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Prior to joining UCLA, she was a tenured full Professor and Department Head at the Computer Engineering Department of Rochester Institute of Technology.

Professor Eshaghian-Wilner received her B.S. degree in Biomedical and Electrical Engineering (1985), M.S. degree in Computer Engineering (1985), her Engineers degree in Electrical Engineering (1988), and her Ph.D. in Computer Engineering (1988), all from USC. She holds a J.D. degree from the Northwestern California School of Law, and has graduated Cum Laude with an LL.M. degree from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law. She is admitted to the State Bar of California and the Washington, D.C. Bar, and is registered as a Patent Attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Professor Eshaghian-Wilner is best known for her pioneering contributions to three areas of Optical Computing, Heterogeneous Computing, and Nanoscale Computing. In the area of Optical Computing, she produced one of the first theses that dealt with the computational aspects of optical interconnects for VLSI chips. The OMC model was developed by Professor Eshaghian-Wilner as part of her Ph.D. work, and since then, many architectures and algorithms have been designed by on that model.

In the area of Heterogeneous Computing, Professor Eshaghian-Wilner is the editor of the field\'s first book, \"Heterogeneous Computing\" and she is the co- founder of the IEEE Heterogeneous Computing Workshop. The NSF-funded Cluster-M model was developed by her team, as one of the first paradigms for executing heterogeneous applications to systems. The Cluster-M mapping is still the fastest known algorithm for mapping arbitrary task graphs onto arbitrary system graphs.

In the area of Nanoscale Computing, one of Professor Eshaghian-Wilner\'s most notable results involves the design of highly interconnected multiprocessor chips with spin waves that possess an unprecedented degree of interconnectivity that was not possible previously with electrical VLSI interconnects. These designs have a great potential to be used as part of miniature implantable devices for biomedical applications and nanomedicine. Professor Eshaghian-Wilner serves on the editorial board of Journal of Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology, and is a founding series co-editor of \"Nature Inspired Computing\" for Wiley & Sons. She has edited the first book of this series, \"Bio-inspired and Nanoscale Integrated Computing\".

Professor Eshaghian-Wilner\'s most recent area of research is in Technology Law. She is investigating how various forms of emerging technologies may be impacted by, and come into conflict with, U.S. and international policies and laws. For example, Pervasive (heterogeneous/ubiquitous) computing and nanotechnology are two emerging technologies in which she an extensive scientific background. While these two technologies are entirely different from each other, they both are seemingly invisible, one in terms of interconnectivity and the other in terms of size. They can therefore introduce continuously magnifying challenges to policies and laws that protect rights and property.

Professor Eshaghian-Wilner has founded and/or chaired numerous IEEE conferences and organizations, including the IEEE Women in Engineering affinity division of the Coastal Los Angeles Section. She is the recipient of several prestigious grants and honors including a teaching award for being voted as the best teacher by her engineering students. Professor Eshaghian-Wilner is a nominee for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.

Computing Architectures and Interconnects: Bio-inspired and Nanoscale Computing, MEMS, Optical Interconnects, VLSI and Reconfigurable chips. Computing Networks and Algorithms: Heterogeneous/Cluster/Grid/Cloud Computing, Mapping and Scheduling paradigms/algorithms/tools. Biomedical Applications: Nanomedicine, Bioinformatics, Sequence Alignment, Image-Processing, Computer Vision Technology Law: Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, Patent Reform, Digital Rights, Cyber Law/Crimes, Internet Privacy

Mehran Ektesabi has completed his PhD (Electrical Engineering) in 1989. He has been winner of many national & international awards with more than 25 years research experience in design & development of control systems.

At present, he is with Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology (FSET), at Swinburne University of Technology, Australia. In his field of expertise, he has led many projects and attracted many grants for Swinburne.

He is an active member of IEEE and founder Chair of IEEE Vehicular Technology Society (VTS) Victorian Chapter – Australia. He is executive editor, editor and reviewer of many reputed international Journals & Conferences.

His main areas of expertise and research are Power Electronics, Electric Motor Control Systems, Power Quality Controllers, Energy Saving and Compatibility, Renewable Energy Systems, Intelligent and Autonomous Control, Soft Computing Adaptive Control and System Identification.

Dr Roberto Sabatini is a Professor (Full) of Aerospace Engineering and Aviation Science at RMIT University (Australia). He has 25 years of experience in Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) of Air Traffic Management and Avionic Systems. He is uniquely qualified as an Aerospace/Aviation Researcher, Experimental Flight Test Engineer, Pilot and International R&D Program Manager by a combination of formal academic and military education, substantial research and flight practice, and high-pressure technical and operational leadership experience in Europe, in the United States and in Australia. Prof. Sabatini is an expert in the design, integration and certification of sustainable and cost-effective aviation systems, with specific hands-on competence in Navigation, Guidance and Control, CNS+A Sensors/Multi-Sensor Data Fusion and Aviation Human Factors/Ergonomics (human-machine teaming, cognitive engineering and trusted autonomy). Excellent communicator, writer and educator, Prof. Sabatini has a strong international reputation in his field with a significant record of achievements managing funded research programs for the development of innovative Air Traffic Management and Avionic Systems for civil and military applications.

• Author of more than 250 publications, including 5 books, 2 book chapters, 148 articles in refereed international journals and conference proceedings, 14 invited keynote lectures, 27 research seminars and tutorials, and 85 extended research reports.

• Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation with the following motivation: \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"In recognition of distinguished and sustained contributions to research in avionics and air traffic management systems for manned and unmanned aerospace vehicles.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"

• Recipient of various national and international awards for achievements in Aerospace Engineering and Aviation Research, including the prestigious SAE Arch T. Colwell Merit Award and the NATO Research & Technology Organisation (RTO) Scientific Achievement Award for his contributions to the aerospace/aviation research and flight test communities.

• Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE), Senior Member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Life Member of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA), Member of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS), Member of the American Institute of Navigation (ION), Member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), Member of the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society of Australia (HFESA).

Prof. Sabatini is an expert in the design, integration and certification of sustainable and cost-effective aviation systems, with specific hands-on competence in Navigation, Guidance and Control, CNS+A Sensors/Multi-Sensor Data Fusion and Aviation Human Factors/Ergonomics (human-machine teaming, cognitive engineering and trusted autonomy).

Asim ur Rehman Khan was born in Pakistan. He received the BSc in Electrical Engineering from University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan in 1981. He received MS in Electrical Engineering from South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota in 1987. He received PhD degree from Polytechnic University, (now New York University), New York, USA in 1993.

From 1993 to 1996, he worked in the Space Agency of Pakistan, SUPARCO, where he worked on the design & development of a small satellite. During 1996, he taught undergraduate courses at Sir Syed University, Karachi, Pakistan. He also taught at Karachi University, and NED University of Engineering & Technology, both in Karachi, Pakistan as visiting faculty. During 1997 to 2001 he was assicaited with a software house, Cressoft, where he was involved in the automation of MCI, USA fiber optic nation-wide link. From 2002 to present he is teaching undergraduate & graduate level courses at National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences (NU-FAST).Dr. Khan is a member of IEEE, and Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC).

His principal interests are in the areas of image processing, nework protocols, and network security.

Prof. Rohan Munasinghe is presently the Head of Department of Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering of the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. He earned the MEng degree in 1999 and the PhD degree in 2003 both in Advanced Systems Control from Saga National University, Japan. From 2003 to 2004 he was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) engaged in the Stanford University-KAIST research collaboration on developing robot systems based on human skill primitives. He has won research grants from National Science Foundation (Sri Lanka), Department of Wild Life Conservation(DWC-Sri Lanka), Senate Research Committee(SRC-University of Moratuwa), and National Research Council (NRC-Sri Lanka), United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and has made many refereed publications. He has been awarded the outstanding researcher award of the University of Moratuwa for many years. He has published one text book titled "Classical Control Systems: Design and Implementation", and three book chapters. He is one of the pioneers of the International Conference on Information and Automation for Sustainability (ICIAfS), and chaired the same conference in 2006. His main areas of teaching and research are Robotics, Control Systems, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and Autonomous Intelligent Systems. He has served as Director of the Engineering Research Unit of the Faculty of Engineering, Board of Studies, Faculty Academic Committee, and Senate Research Committee of the University of Moratuwa.

Prof. Munasinghe provides his consultation to a number of government institutions including the Arthur C. Clarke Center for Modern Technologies (ACCIMT), National Science Foundation (NSF), National Engineering Research and Development Centre (NERDC), and Sri Lanka Planetarium. Prof. Munasinghe has delivered keynote speeches at SLIIT(Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology) Research Symposium, SAITM (South Asian Institute of Technology and Management) Research Conference, IET Annual Conference, Annual Symposium of Sri Lanka Institute of Artificial Intelligence, and International Conference of ToC H institute in Kerala India.

Prof. Munasinghe is a chatreed engineer, Senior Member of IEEE, member of Robotics and Automation Society of IEEE, and a member of IE(Sri Lanka). He is an amateur astronomer, a wild-life enthusiast, and a nature-photographer. He loves star gazing, and engages in wild-life adventures and bird photography.

Robotics, Mechatronics, Control systems, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Underwater robotics, Autonomous systems, Intelligent Systems, Adaptive Fuzzy and Neural Systems