Student Research Showcase

Twenty-four students entered twelve projects in the 2023 Summer Poster Competition. This years event was held in a virtual environment which enabled increased participation and engagement. In virtual breakout rooms students met with guests from throughout UMTRI, Michigan Engineering as well as sponsors, presenting their projects and answering questions. They also prepared a five minute video presentation which is shared below.

This year’s judges were:

Tulga Ersal is an Associate Research Scientist in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. Tulga Ersal’s research is in the field of system dynamics and control. He is interested in mathematical modeling, model reduction, multibody dynamics, networked hardware-in-the-loop simulation, system identification, and advanced control techniques with applications to energy systems (e.g., batteries, vehicle powertrains, microgrids), vehicle systems (e.g., autonomous vehicles, vehicle dynamics, powertrain management, driver distraction), and biomechanics (e.g. human balance). Dr. Ersal is an Associate Editor, ASME Dynamic Systems and Control Conference (2014), Vice-Chair of the Model Identification and Intelligent Systems Technical Committee of the ASME Dynamic Systems and Control Division (Oct 2012 – present).

Raymond Hess is Transportation Manager for the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Alongside a passionate team, he implements transportation initiatives that aim to improve safety and the livability of the community. Previously, he was Director of Planning Services at the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada and oversaw the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the greater Las Vegas Valley as well as a regional sustainable communities initiative known as Southern Nevada Strong. Prior to joining the RTC, Raymond worked for the City of Bloomington (IN), the City of Brooksville (FL) and was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Ivory Coast West Africa.

Monali Shah is a strategic business executive for the public sector at Google. She leads the creation of mobility, sustainability and equity solutions leveraging Google Cloud’s AI capabilities to address the needs of public sector agencies. She is the vice chair of the board of directors for ITS America and serves on DOE’s Smart Mobility Executive Advisory Board. Ms. Shah previously served as the director of intelligent transportation at HERE Technologies and led product innovation at Nokia across many areas including connected and automated driving, traffic management, outdoor adventure. Ms. Shah has a degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Michigan and holds an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Alyssa Budweg, Simi Neeluru, Divya Pothavajhyula, Ellison Soobert “Parametric Modeling of the Upper Extremities“

James Song Developing an Automated Method for Parametric Human Modeling

Lihan Lian, Michelle Baek, Sunwoo Ma, Yilin Wang A Parametric Thoracic Spine Model Accounting for Geometric Variations by Sex, Age, Stature, and Body Mass Index

Brennen T. McManus Postural Comparison Between Individuals Seated in Wheelchairs and Standard Automotive Posture

Ruimin Gao “Exploring Heart Rate Estimation Approaches Using Empatica E4 Wristband in Vehicle Environments

Jingkun Zhao “A Tool for Virtual Reality (VR) Assisted Surgery: 3D Human Modeling and Visualization