Prof. Hamid Reza Karimi
Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Member of Academia Europa (MAE), Distinguished Fellow of the International Institute of Acoustics and Vibration (IIAV), Fellow of The International Society for Condition Monitoring (ISCM), Fellow of the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (AAIA), Member of Agder Academy of Science and Letters

Speech Title: Intelligent Soft Sensing and Prediction for Industrial Applications

Abstract: In this talk, we explore innovative methodologies for efficient and cost-effective process optimization in industrial applications. Soft sensing refers to approximating hard-to-measure variables using easy-to-measure ones under the constraint of the current instant, whereas prediction extends the focus to future horizons. The presentation highlights several novel soft sensing and prediction frameworks developed for two specific case studies: industrial aluminum electrolysis and undermining systems. These frameworks leverage semi-supervised and self-supervised learning to address few-shot labeled sample scenarios while maintaining performance integrity. Furthermore, a unified prediction and control framework is proposed, enabling full-scale AI-based applications for these industries. The talk concludes with key insights and future directions.

Biography: Hamid Reza Karimi is Professor of Applied Mechanics with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy and the Honorary Visiting Professor within the School of Computing & Engineering at the University of Huddersfield, UK. Prof. Karimi’s original research and development achievements span a broad spectrum within the topic of automation/control systems, and intelligence systems with applications to complex systems such as wind turbines, vehicles, robotics and mechatronics. Prof. Karimi is an ordinary Member of Academia Europa (MAE), Honorary Academic Member of National Academy of Sciences of Bolivia, Distinguished Fellow of the International Institute of Acoustics and Vibration (IIAV), Fellow of The International Society for Condition Monitoring (ISCM), Fellow of the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (AAIA), Member of Agder Academy of Science and Letters and also a member of the IFAC Technical Committee on Mechatronic Systems, the IFAC Technical Committee on Robust Control, the IFAC Technical Committee on Automotive Control as well as member of the board of Directors of The International Institute of Acoustics and Vibration (IIAV). Prof. Karimi is the recipient of the 2021 BINDT CM Innovation Award, the Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher in Engineering, the 2020 IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems Guillemin-Cauer Best Paper Award, August-Wilhelm-Scheer Visiting Professorship Award, JSPS (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) Research Award, and Alexander-von-Humboldt-Stiftung research Award, for instance. Prof. Karimi is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Cyber-Physical Systems, Subject Editor, Technical Editor or Associate Editor for some international journals and Book Series Editor for Springer, CRC Press and Elsevier. He has also participated as General Chair, keynote/plenary speaker, distinguished speaker or program chair for several international conferences in the areas of Control Systems, Robotics and Mechatronics.

.

Assoc. Prof. Bruno Domenech
Technical University of Catalonia, Spain

Serra Húnter Fellow

Speech Title: Introducing Scheduling Flexibility into Industrial Productive Systems to Enable Energy Transition

Abstract: The penetration of renewable energy sources into the national electric grid matrices forces the need to increasing flexibility in different ways (grid, storage and demand-side). A key strategy is Industrial Demand Response, especially for intensive electricity consumers. In this context, several initiatives aim to adapt industrial production planning and scheduling to the renewable generation and offer flexibility to electricity markets. The Flex4Fact project gathers five European industries and analyses how their production scheduling can be adapted to take higher advantage of renewable self-generation facilities and offer flexibility of the cluster as a whole. For this purpose, Digital Twins of industrial processes allow identifying flexibility options and scheduling algorithms aim to optimise production while taking into account the energy vector. As future research, robotics and automation systems are expected to increase flexibility options.

​Biography: Dr. Bruno Domenech is Associate Professor at the Department of Management of the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC). His research, within the framework of the Institute of Industrial and Control Engineering (IOC) and the research group on Design and Optimisation of Processes and Services (DOPS), focuses on the application of quantitative methods to solve industrial problems with an applied, social and sustainable approach. In particular, his main research areas are: energy planning and production management. He has participated in several European, Spanish and local research projects, and he is (co)author of more than 50 publications, including books, book chapters and JCR papers.

Prof. Joanna Kwiecień
AGH University of Krakow, Poland

Speech Title: Process Management with Augmented Reality And Mobile Devices

Abstract: The speech will cover the aspect of modeling and describing real industrial processes. Such a process integrates augmented reality (AR), mobile devices, rule systems and various methods of articial intelligence, such as image analysis using deep learning methods. A framework of maintenance process supported by augmented reality and mobile devices (which collect data from measurements) to support employees during repair and service procedures will be presented. This system uses interactive AR goggles, and integrates solutions that use augmented reality to visualize objects in 3D space. This solution significantly increases work safety. Moreover, some challenges and future directions from process management perspective will be discussed.

Biography: Joanna Kwiecień - a Professor at AGH University of Krakow. She received her PhD degree in Automatics and Robotics, and DSc degree at AGH-UST in 2004, and 2019, respectively. She is a specialist on methods and algorithms of artificial intelligence (mainly swarm intelligence), which have many applications in robotics (e.g. path planning, swarm robotics). Her interests include also modeling and optimization of real systems, discrete optimization, and decision making. She is the author and co-author of over 50 national and international research papers. She has been a reviewer for several international conferences and journals, such as: IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, Expert Systems with Applications, Swarm and Evolutionary Computation. She has been involved in research projects as one of the contractors - most of them has been funded by The National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR).

Assoc. Prof. M. Ilhan Akbas
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida, USA

Speech Title: Validation and Verification of Autonomous Vehicles: Landscape, Challenges and an Open-Source Validation Platform, PolyVerif

Bio: Dr. M. Ilhan Akbas, associate professor at the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department, co-director of WIDE Lab, and a member of the leadership team of the Center for Aerospace Resilient Systems (CARS) at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), has over 20 years of experience in the complex systems, modeling and simulation, and validation & verification. He was a founding member of the Advanced Mobility Institute at Florida Polytechnic University before joining ERAU. He also has more than eight years of defense industry and enterprise level software development experience. Dr. Akbas and his research group's research has been supported through grants from agencies such as National Science Foundation, Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Naval Research, as well as industry. He is a member of IEEE, ACM, AIAA, SAE, International Alliance for Mobility Testing and Standardization, Complex Systems Society and Cyber Safety Commercial Aviation Team.

 

Invited Speakers

Assoc. Prof. Qingshan Wu
Xi'an University of Technology, China

Speech Title: Design and Analysis of Efficient Desert straw checkerboard Laying Machine Based on PLC Automatic Control Technology

Biography: Qingshan Wu, Associate Professor,A teacher of Xi'an Technology and Business College, representative of the 17th National People's Congress of Xi 'an Gaoling District, special supervisor of Gaoling District Supervision Committee, Special Commissioner of Science and Technology Department of Shaanxi Province, member of IEEE (ICMEE, ICMERR, RAAI) Professional Committee, member of the Expert Database of Undergraduate and Graduate Education dissertation Sampling Review of the Ministry of Education of China. Xi 'an Gaoling District Luyuan Middle School vice principal of science and technology. Main research directions: Mechanical design and theory, 3D CAD/CAM digital design and analysis, mathematical algorithms and agricultural machinery, innovation and entrepreneurship education.
In recent years, He have hosted or participated in 9 provincial and school-level educational reform projects and scientific research fund projects. He have published 16 papers (including 3 papers indexed by EI and Scopus; 1 paper indexed by the prestigious Chinese academic journal), applied for 11 patents and software copyrights. He have guided 11 student projects to apply for the "Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program of Shaanxi Provincial Education Department," 11 of which were approved at the provincial level and 3 at the national level. He have guided students to participate in national competitions such as the 3D Digital Design Competition, the National Mechanical Innovation Design Competition, and the China "Internet Plus" University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, winning over 20 national first, second, and third prizes and over 70 provincial prizes.
He has received numerous honorary titles, including "Outstanding Worker of Shaanxi Education Department" and "Advanced Individual of the Ministry of Education's Graduate Employment Association.", a teacher at the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, is a representative of the 17th People's Congress of Gaoliang District, Xi'an City, a special monitor for the Gaoliang District Supervisory Commission, a science and technology special envoy of the Shaanxi Science and Technology Department, a member of the EI paper review expert panel of the IEEE (ICMEE, ICMERR, RAAI), a member of the Evaluation Expert Panel for Bachelor's and Master's Degree Education Graduation Theses of the Ministry of Education, and the vice principal for science and technology of Luyuan Middle School in Gaoliang District, Xi'an City.
In recent years, he has served as the principal investigator or co-investigator for one key project of Shaanxi Province's educational reform and three provincial research projects, as well as six projects funded by the Gaoliang District President's Research Fund. He has published 16 academic papers, including three papers indexed by EI and Scopus and one paper indexed by CSSCI. He has also filed for nine patents. He has guided 11 students to apply for the Shaanxi Education Department's "College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Plan Project," with eight projects approved at the provincial level and three at the national level. He has guided students to win more than 20 national first, second, and third prizes in various science and technology competitions, including the 3D Digital Design Competition, the National Mechanical Innovation Design Competition, and the China "Internet Plus" College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition. They have also won more than 70 provincial prizes.
Wu has received numerous honorary titles, including "Outstanding Worker of Shaanxi Education Department" and "Advanced Individual of the Ministry of Education's Graduate Employment Association."

 

Assoc. Prof. Ali Abolfathi
University of Southampton, UK

Speech Title: Novel Flapping-wing Micro Aerial Vehicles Utilising Dynamic Amplification

Abstract: This paper introduces a novel design for flapping wing micro aerial vehicles (FWMAVs) that employs dynamic amplification. By utilising mechanical resonance, the design amplifies wing stroke and pitching motions, reducing the energy requirement while enhancing lift production. This approach also minimises the maximum strain on the actuator, thereby improving its structural integrity. A comprehensive mathematical model of the flapping mechanism is developed, incorporating the electromechanical characteristics of piezoelectric materials, nonlinear structural dynamics and aerodynamics. Numerical simulations using MATLAB and Simulink demonstrate the advantages of dynamic amplification, showing a significant improvement in lift generation compared to rigidly structured flapping systems. Using a practical actuator and wing setup, the model predicts a stroke angle of 45 °, a pitching angle of 67 °, a lift generation of 28.4 mN, and average input and output powers of 6.7 mW and 2.9 mW, respectively. This design approach offers a promising pathway for developing high-performance FWMAVs, with potential applications in autonomous flight operations.

Biography: Dr Ali Abolfathi is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UCL. He completed his PhD in nonlinear vibrations at the ISVR, University of Southampton, UK. He has worked at the industry and other UK institutions before joining UCL in 2016. Dr Abolfathi leads the Advanced Dynamical Systems Lab at UCL Mechanical Engineering, with research interests spanning nonlinear dynamics, bioinspired micro-flapping wing drones, insect flight mechanisms, and energy harvesting from fluid-induced oscillations. He has supervised over 80 MSc and PhD students and has published extensively in high-impact journals.