Connected Vehicles and Powertrain Optimization

Bo Chen is Dave House Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical Engineering – Engineering Mechanics and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Michigan Technological University. Dr. Chen conducts interdisciplinary research in the areas of embedded systems and controls, modeling and control of hybrid electric vehicles, and electric vehicle - smart grid integration. Her research projects are funded by the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and industrial partners. Dr. Chen has served as the Chair of the Technical Committee on Mechatronic and Embedded Systems and Applications in the ASME Design Engineering Division and the Chair of the Technical Committee on Mechatronics and Embedded Systems in the IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems Society.

Darrell Robinette, PhD, P.E. is an assistant professor in the department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics. Darrell joined Michigan Tech in August of 2016 after a nine-year career at General Motors where he served in a variety of roles. Dr. Robinette's career at GM started in 2007 as a powertrain integration engineer at the Noise and Vibration Center at the Milford proving grounds working as a specialist in drivetrain torsional dynamics. In 2011, Dr. Robinette transferred to the automatic transmission Road-to-Lab-to-Math group developing methodologies for implementing model-based control algorithms and dynamometer-based calibration techniques into production vehicle programs with the aim of increased efficiency and robustness with respect to drive quality. In late 2015 Dr. Robinette transitioned to the electrification propulsion systems engineering group working on a range of topics related to system dynamics for the next generation of electrified propulsion systems.

Mahdi Shahbakhti is an associate professor of Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Technological University, where he conducts research in the area of controls and energy systems. Prior to joining Michigan Tech in 2012, he was a post-doctoral scholar at the University of California-Berkeley. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta in Canada in 2009. An ASME and SAE member, Shahbakhti has been doing research in the areas of controls, powertrains, and energy systems for the past 17 years. His research centers on developing dynamical models and novel control techniques with applications in vehicles and building energy systems. He is the author of over 120 refereed publications in the field of powertrain, energy systems and controls.

Jeffrey D. Naber is the Ronald and Elaine Starr Professor of Energy Systems in the Mechanical Engineering – Engineering Mechanics Department at Michigan Tech University. He is also the director of the Advanced Power Systems Research Center (APS LABS). As director he works with industry and federal partners with faculty, staff and students to advance multiple aspects of mobility. He is the principal investigator for the ARPA-E NEXTCAR project. He has 30 years of experience in vehicle and powertrain technologies working for Michigan Tech, Motorola Automotive Group, and DOE Sandia National Laboratories. Over his career he has worked on R&D, implementation, calibration and validation of numerous programs including safety-critical systems.

Jeremy Worm joined APS LABS in 2007. Mr. Worm is the Director of the Michigan Tech Mobile Lab. Mr. Worm is active in research and testing projects in the areas of engines, alternative fuels, combustion, emissions, and vehicle systems. Worm has developed and previously taught two courses in Hybrid Electric Vehicles, and has developed and currently teaches a course in Powertrain and Vehicle Instrumentation and Testing. Prior to joining APS LABS, Mr. Worm was a Senior Engineer at GM Powertrain working on a variety of engine development projects. Mr. Worm holds an MS in Mechanical Engineering, is working on a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, and is a Licensed Professional Engineer.

Chris Morgan has worked for over 7 years in HEV and EV system design, integration, and execution of electrified vehicles. Chris was a calibration engineer at General Motors, specializing in electric machine and power electronic diagnostics. Additionally, Chris spent time working as an algorithm and software development engineer in hybrid controls, including engine start/stop and P1 HEV algorithms. Chris also spent time as a development and validation engineer in electrified drive systems, and was a diagnostic strategist for the Chevy Bolt program.

Christopher Pinnow has worked as a Sr. software engineer and electronics/computer engineer since 2005 in the APS Labs and Great Lakes Research Center at Michigan Technological University. His areas of expertise include remote instrumentation, autonomous vehicle operation, computer networking, mapping and GIS software.

Dr. Kuilin Zhang is Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Michigan Tech. Dr. Zhang received his Ph.D. degree in Transportation Systems Analysis and Planning from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northwestern University in December 2009. After working as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Transportation Center at Northwestern, he joined the Energy Systems Division at Argonne National Laboratory as a Postdoctoral Appointee in November 2010. He joined Michigan Tech in August 2013 through the university-wide Strategic Faculty Hiring Initiatives (SFHI) in Multimodal Transportation Systems. Dr. Zhang is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Transportation Research Part E - Logistics and Transportation Review, as well as Transportation Research Board (TRB) standing committees of Transportation Network Modeling (ADB30) and Freight Transportation Planning and Logistics (AT015). He is also a member of INFORMS. Dr. Zhang's research includes transportation network modeling, traffic flow theory and traffic simulation, plug-in electric vehicles, and connected and automated vehicles.