ECE Graduate Students Received 2023 SSCET Conference Research Poster Awards
October 4, 2023
Timothy Sellers
Two graduate students in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering recently received recognition for their outstanding work in the research poster competition at the 2023 Southeast Symposium on Contemporary Engineering Topics (SSCET) Conference and Arkansas Engineering Forum.
Ph.D. student Timothy Sellers secured the first-place award for his presentation “A Multi-Robot Graph-Based Emission Monitoring System for Power Plants,” while Ph.D. student Tingjun Lei received third place for his presentation “Enhancing Autonomous Inspections of Power Plants: A Human-Autonomous Team Approach with Information Path Planning.” Both students are under the mentorship of ECE Associate Professor Chaomin Luo.
Sellers and Lei said the symposium provided opportunities to delve deeper into their research on autonomous systems and their impact on various sectors of society, which will ultimately contribute to improving robotics and artificial intelligence inspection techniques.
Sellers said, “In my work, we’ve developed a heterogeneous autonomous robot system that addresses the numerous challenges faced in nuclear power plants, including complex layout determination and navigation within multi-field path planning. Our simulations and comparative studies have validated the efficiency of our proposed model in contributing to the sustainable operation of nuclear power plants, while ensuring the safety of both personnel and the environment.”
He also emphasized how working with Dr. Luo had expanded his knowledge and skills, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration among graduate students.
“As a graduate student, it is crucial to learn from researchers in various fields. Our discussions with Professor Luo and other faculty have been instrumental in creating a solid research foundation,” Sellers noted.
Tingjun Lei
Lei also expressed his gratitude for Luo’s guidance and support, stating, “I would like to extend my sincere thanks to my major professor, Dr. Chaomin Luo, for his unwavering guidance and encouragement. Dr. Luo’s passion for research has been a tremendous source of inspiration for me, driving me to conduct innovative research and make steady progress in my work. His mentorship has honed my abilities in various facets, and he has consistently supported my participation in conferences to present my papers and engage with fellow researchers.”
Lei’s presentation focused on Human-Autonomous Team (HAT)-based Information Path Planning (IPP), which aims to address the challenges of exploring hazardous environments.
“This approach empowers autonomous inspection robots to operate more effectively in such environments. Our proposed information path planning method, rooted in multi-objective optimization, equips the robot to explore the environment while prioritizing frequent visits to high-interest sites,” Lei explained.
To learn more about other presentation winners of the SSCET Conference and Arkansas Engineering Forum, individuals can visit https://sites.google.com/a/uah.edu/sscet/. Participants not only advance the field of engineering, but they also showcase the importance of mentorship and interdisciplinary collaboration in shaping the future of technology and innovation with universities and industries.
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Mississippi State University consists of 27 faculty members (including seven endowed professors), seven professional staff, and over 700 undergraduate and graduate students, with approximately 100 being at the Ph.D. level. With a research expenditure of over $14.24 million, the department houses the largest High Voltage Laboratory among North American universities.