Jan van Deventer

Introduction

Cyber Physical System (CPS) is a young research subject, and a natural one for me. I can trace it back to my childhood when I played with Legos that used motors and lights. An interest that continued with other modeled vehicles. This culminated with the development on active systems for trucks, car and race cars. Combining mechanical systems with electronic ones is a rewarding experience. The cyber component, i.e., connecting these aggregated systems to the Internet is an obvious evolution with the technology that is available to us today.

As an academic researcher, I started with the challenge to measure the density of liquids using ultrasound regardless of thermal changes across the probe. The values measured by these transducers need to be communicated to other systems that need the information. The research and application of CPS is an obvious extension to sensors and actuators. When there are too many of them service discovery at run-time with cybersecurity becomes essential and the aim of our research.
Currently, my research and teaching are related to the development and application of the Eclipse Arrowhead framework. I am involved in the application of the framework in manufacturing, smart cities with focus on energy optimization, and on vehicles. Examples include:

• A fischertechnik learning factory with different PLC technologies and digital twins.
• Demand response based on energy pricing at the radiator level.
• An autonomous snowblower with a two centimeters accuracy within Sweden with V2X (weather station and other snowblowers) that starts a mission upwind.

My background might seem convoluted, and yet aligned with what I do. I received my bachelor’s degree in Physics from Hope College, Holland, MI in 1987 and my master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI in 1989. I received my Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering in 2001 from Luleå University of Technology. In between my last two degrees, I worked for a large automotive supplier in the US and in Europe.

I am a Dutch citizen with Afghan, Danish and Dutch origins, and a Mongol middle name. I was born and raised in Casablanca, Morocco before continuing my education in Aix- en-Provence, France. I finished high school at a boarding school on Long Island, NY. My years as a French boy scout in North Africa and a student at the Stony Brook School have had a large impact on my values and personal mission.