MAE Speaker Series Seminar on AI-based Convoying of Leader-follower Autonomous Vehicles

 Seminar Recording_Prof Saeid Nahavandi.mp4

Distinguished Professor Saeid Nahavandi, FIEEE

Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Chief of Defence Innovation 

President Elect of IEEE SMC Society

Swinburne University of Technology, Australia

This seminar will be chaired by Asst Prof Mir Feroskhan.

This presentation will elucidate the design, development, test, validation, and road-trial of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based system for intelligent convoying of a fleet of autonomous vehicles (AVs).   The evolution from initially controlling a group of robots bilaterally, transitioning to human-in-the-loop regulation, progressing to advanced human-on-the-loop supervision, and finally achieving a fully autonomous convoy of vehicles will be explained.  The key innovations focus on two essential aspects: hardware-based robotic technology, including mechatronic instruments and sensing devices for steering and pedal control in a leader-follower configuration, and software-based AI algorithms, covering data-based learning models and inference engines for sensing and monitoring the environment to ensure robust and safe autonomous operations.  The “brain” of the AVs, particularly from the robustness and safety operability perspectives, entails two key modules: one for path planning, navigation, and control to ensure the safety of each AV and the entire fleet; and another for object detection and intention prediction to safeguard the safety of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and animals.  The talk will discuss how these modular sub-systems work together as an integrated AI-based solution for AVs to undertake complex driving tasks in highly unstructured environments.  Case studies and major challenges are also highlighted.

Distinguished Professor Saeid Nahavandi is Swinburne University of Technology’s inaugural Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Chief of Defence Innovation. He previously served as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Defence Technologies) and Founding Director of the Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation, Deakin University. Saeid received a Ph.D. from Durham University, U.K. in 1991. His research interests include autonomous systems, modeling of complex systems, robotics and haptics. Saeid was the recipient of the Clunies Ross Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2022 from the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering, Researcher of the Year for Australian Space Awards 2021, Australian Defence Industry Awards - Winner of Innovator of the year, The Essington Lewis Awards, and Australian Engineering Excellence Awards - Professional Engineer of the Year. Saeid has published over 1300 papers.

Professor Nahavandi holds six patents, two of which have resulted in two very successful start-ups (Universal Motion Simulator Pty Ltd and FLAIM Systems Pty Ltd).