This year, the conference was held at Winchester, and hosted ‘The IMechE mini-symposium’ on the theme of 'Dynamics and Control of Electric Autonomous Ground Vehicles', supported and organised by Institution of Mechanical Engineers Mechatronics, Informatics and Control Group (MICG). The theme of the mini-symposium was complementary to the research showcased in the conference on Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Nonlinear Control, Transportation and Vehicle Systems, and the tutorial sessions.
The mini-symposium had a diverse line-up of speakers from academia in the UK and India, as well as from industry. It attracted diverse range of audiences from experienced researchers, to ECRs and PhD scholars. The mini-symposium was chaired by Dr Saikat Dutta, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, also a member of the MICG Board.
James Fleming, Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical, and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, also MICG Board member, began the session with an attractive talk on objective-based controllers in uncertain environments, sparking a discussion on the crucial role perception algorithms play in crafting autonomous vehicle controllers.
Husain Kanchwala, Assistant Professor, Doctor of Philosophy, Center of Automotive Research and Tribology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, provided insights into ongoing research on path planning and trajectory control algorithms, showcasing experiments conducted on a scaled autonomous vehicle. The exploration of various trajectory controllers through validation with the scaled car was particularly intriguing.
Daniel Abara, R&D Engineer, Academic Applications, Quanser, shed light on Quanser's latest innovation with a new self-driving car studio, underlining its open architecture, virtual simulation environment, and seamless integration with hardware. He also highlighted the availability of sensor datasets for both model-based and data-driven controller design, which garnered significant interest from the audience.
Saikat Dutta, presented the ‘complexities of controller development within vehicular platoons’, focusing on challenges encountered during merging scenarios. His discussion on the prioritisation of objectives and the inevitable trade-offs involved sparked thought-provoking conversations among attendees.
The symposium drew a substantial audience, resonating with the broader discourse of the Control Conference on transport innovation. It emphasised the necessity for collaborative research, echoing the priorities outlined by IMechE priorities on Future Transport, Education, Climate Change and Sustainability. Such symposiums, especially those featuring international researchers, provide an invaluable platform for researchers to unveil their latest findings, exchanging ideas, and cultivate collaborations to address emerging trends and challenges in related fields.
NOTE: CONTROL 2024 is hosted by University of Southampton, and co-sponsored by IEEE UKRI Control Systems Chapter, Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), Institute of Measurement and Control (InstMC), and Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE). See the programme at a glance.
The Mechatronics, Informatics and Control Group is a member of the The UK Automatic Control Council and supports its activities. We look forward to seeing you there at CONTROL 2026 International Conference.
The Mechatronics, Informatics and Control Group is organising:
MECHATRONICS ENGINEERING STUDENT OF THE YEAR COMPETITION
£500 (1st Prize), £250 each for 2nd & 3rd prize
To find the best undergraduate or recent graduate student project in the field of mechatronics from a United Kingdom university.
Deadline 9 September 2024. Apply now! Winners will also receive a prize, certificate and recognition via the IMechE for their achievement.
The MICG also coordinates and supports the MECHATRONICS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE held biannually. The last event, 17th International Mechatronics Conference was held on 11 September 2023 at KU Leuven, Belgium.
Please visit our webpage to find out more about the MICG. If you have any questions about the activities of the MICG board or would like to join, contact us E: Membernetworks@imeche.org also engage with us on LinkedIn