The seminar will highlight research on advanced sensing for improved observability in manufacturing, using polymer injection molding and sheet metal microrolling as examples. The design, characterization, and realization of embedded sensing and acoustic-based wireless data transmission in RF-shielded environment, together with computational methods, will be demonstrated. The seminar will illustrate the significance of integrating sensing with data analytics to enhance the science base and state-of-the-technology for smart manufacturing.
Robert Gao is the Cady Staley Professor of Engineering and Department Chair of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the Case Western Reserve University. Since receiving his PhD from the Technical University of Berlin, Germany, in 1991, he has been working on physics-based sensing methodology, design, modeling, and characterization of instrument systems, multi-resolution signal analysis, and energy-efficient sensor networks for the in-situ monitoring of dynamical phenomena, from manufacturing to cyber physical systems and human physical activities. The goal of his research is to improve the observability of systems and processes being monitored to enable better understanding of the underlying physical mechanisms and better process control. He has published two books and over 300 refereed technical papers, has 11 awarded and pending patents, and supervised over 35 PhD and MSc students to their graduation.
Prof. Gao is a Fellow of the IEEE, ASME, and SME, associate member of the International Academy of Production Engineering (CIRP), and an elected member of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering. His honors and awards include the Technical Award from the IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society (2013), CAREER award from the US National Science Foundation (1996), outstanding faculty awards from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and University of Connecticut, and multiple best paper/best student paper awards.
Dr Gary Lu will chair this seminar and all members of staff are welcome to attend. RAs and postgraduates (PhD candidates and MSc students) are particularly encouraged to attend the event.