NZC Visiting Fellow Professor Jaspreet Dhupia Visits Peking University

09/11/2019 — Professor Jaspreet Dhupia from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auckland University visited Peking University as a New Zealand Centre fellow.  On the 22nd of October, he presented his seminar entitled “Improving Performance and Reliability of Mechatronic Systems Using Modelling and Control Strategies.” The seminar was held at the Intelligent Control Lab, located in the Centre for Systems and Control, and was hosted by Professor Haixia Zhang from Institute of Micro Electronics, Peking University.

From the 19th of October to the 5th of November, Professor Jaspreet Dhupia visited Peking University. Though he has been to China many times, this is the first time for him to be at Peking University.  Here, he was warmly welcomed and hosted by two professors: Professor Zhang Haixia from the Institute of Microelectronics, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences and Professor Xie Guangming from the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, School of Engineering. Prof. Xie is already invited to be one of the examiners of Professor Dhupia’s PhD students. 

On 22 October, Professor Dhupia  presented his seminar entitled “Improving Performance and Reliability of Mechatronic Systems Using Modelling and Control Strategies”on the 22nd of October.  While focusing on improving reliability and robustness of electro-mechanical systems, Professor Dhupia discusses how electro-mechanical systems are increasingly becoming more common in energy generation, such as hybrid vehicles and automation. As such, these systems need to be adequately reliable and robust to ensure user safety. His lecture details how to go about this by using intelligent design, modelling and simulation, application of advanced control techniques and fault monitoring methods. 

From left to right: Claudia Mason, Prof. Jaspreet Dhupia and Prof. Haixia Zhang and Prof. Xie Guangming

The seminar was divided into two parts. The first part detailed automation and robotics, specifically discussing the modelling and control of a linkage chewing robot, and how it can be used to find how texture affects human chewing forces. Other robotic systems were also discussed, such as the redundantly actuated parallel chewing robot, and a soft surface manipulator. The latter was also talked on in relation to its inspiration origin, the caterpillar, and how it inspired the system’s movements and function.
The second part of the lecture covered new monitoring and control algorithms developed in order to adjust for the uncertainty and varying operating conditions that are associated in most industrial automation machines. This part discussed different control strategies used to account for uncertainty within the various systems.

Prof. Jaspreet Dhupia with PKU faculty and students after the lecture

During his stay in China, Professor Dhupia had the opportunity to meet up with various experts related to his field of work in different universities in other parts of China, such as Zhisheng Duan, Zhiyong Geng. He was also invited  to present his seminar at Tsinghua University hosted by Professor Jianfu Zhang from the Department of Mechanical Engineering before he was able to relax a bit by making a day trip to the Fragrant Hills in Beijing.

Professor Dhupia had a fruitful and productive stay in China.

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