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 Science and Technology, 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

Abstract: The validation and verification (V&V) of Artificial Intelligence (AI) based cyber-physical systems, such as Autonomous Vehicles (AVs), remains a complex and unresolved challenge. AVs incorporate subsystems in areas including detection, sensor fusion, localization, perception, and path planning, each of which integrates substantial AI/ML content with traditional hardware and software components. The intricacy involved in validating even a single subsystem is formidable, and the task of validating the entire system is exceedingly arduous. Thus, fundamental research aimed at advancing the state-of-the-art in AV V&V is imperative. However, V&V researchers encounter significant obstacles due to the extensive infrastructure required to demonstrate the feasibility of any proposed solutions. This talk presents PolyVerif, an open-source initiative dedicated to expediting advancements in AV V&V research. This framework offers an AI design and verification architecture that includes a digital twin creation process, an open-source AV engine, access to multiple open-source physics-based simulators, and an open-source symbolic test generation engine. PolyVerif aims to equip V&V researchers with a framework that extends the state-of-the-art along any of the major axes of interest, utilizing the remaining infrastructure to promptly showcase the feasibility of their solutions. The open-source nature also provides the opportunity for researchers to contribute their innovations to the project. The talk will also include examples from several past and ongoing projects leveraging PolyVerif.

Biography: 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 Speaker

Assoc. Prof. Md. Khaja Mohiddin
Bhilai Institute of Technology, India

Bio: Dr. Md. Khaja Mohiddin is currently handling the post of Dean Academics as well as Coordinator - Training and Placement and functioning towards Talent Aquisition, Training & Development, and Corporate Relations, etc. He received his B. Tech. Degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Al-Ameer College of Engineering and Information Technology, Andhra Pradesh, India, in 2009, M. Tech. Degree in Digital Electronics & Communication Systems from Chaitanya Engineering College, Andhra Pradesh, India, in 2012, Ph.D. in Wireless Communication & Mobile Adhoc Network from Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India in 2020. He is currently working as a Associate Professor in the Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering at Bhilai Institute of Technology, Raipur, (Chhattisgarh) since July, 2012. His research interests include Wireless Communication, Wireless Sensor Network, Image Processing, Global Positioning System, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Power Electronics and Power Systems. He has published more than 40+ research papers in national and international journals which are SCI/Scopus indexed. He has been associated with professional memberships in IEI, ISTE, ISRS, ISCA, ISRD. He has published around 4 international patents and 9 national patents with 1 Indian copyright. He has completed 2 research projects funded by CSVTU through TEQIP-III Cell. He has organized and coordinated many national and international conferences, seminars, workshops etc.