Yogang Singh PhD
Lecturer in Automation, Control and Systems Engineering
- Department of Engineering and Mathematics
- Materials and Engineering Research Institute
- Industry and Innovation Research Institute
Summary
My main research areas are Autonomous Shipping and Autonomous Marine Systems with a special focus on Industry4.0 and Maritime4.0 applications. I aspire to contribute to finding solutions to pertinent challenges of autonomous and connected systems i.e. How to enable various forms of autonomy in a dynamic environment? How to improve efficiency & safety of autonomous systems in a complex scenario? through the development of novel decision tools in the simulation framework validated by experiments. To do so, my approach combines theory, simulations and experiments under one broader horizon of design, prototyping and experiments with robots.
About
I am currently working as a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Automation, Control & Systems Engineering in the Department of Engineering and Mathematics, mainly involved in teaching at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, supervising project- and research students, developing an externally funded research programme of the highest quality and impact, leverage synergies with other departments across the College of Technology to support and advance the college undergraduate and postgraduate Engineering curricula and perform service at the Department, College, and University level. Before taking on my current role, I actively engaged in research at both the post-doctoral and graduate levels, delving into fundamental and applied research domains. My primary research areas have predominantly centred on Autonomous Shipping and Autonomous Marine Systems, delving into specific research domains of Maritime Voyage/Path Planning, Multi-Robot System Design, Dynamics & Control of Marine Robots, Mechanical Design, and Industry 4.0 topics. In my most recent position as a Research Expert, my primary emphasis was on conducting industrially oriented, pre-competitive technological research related to the future
of Smart vehicles, Smart operators, and Smart machines. This work involved close collaboration with university professors, industrial partners, and researchers from various organizations in Belgium. The core objective of my portfolio was to propose and explore innovative methodologies and approaches for designing the next generation of large-scale interconnected industrial systems and processes, aligning with the Industry 4.0/5.0 framework. Through these collaborative efforts, I oversaw the coordination of projects exceeding $6 million in value, with project submissions in European contexts totalling more than $4 million. Before the role of Research Expert, I have been an active researcher at the post-doctoral and graduate level in fundamental and applied research, in the areas of maritime path planning, multi-robot systems, maritime logistics and marine robotics. Some of the key highlights have been the execution of successful projects for national and international organizations in the topics of Autonomous Inland Shipping, Dynamics of
Marine Vessels, and Pollution Monitoring using Marine Robots. I have imparted instruction across a spectrum of courses encompassing Robotics, Autonomous Systems and Control Engineering. These courses span from foundational subjects like Robotics & Control Theory to advanced topics in Control Methods, catering to a diverse audience of both undergraduate and graduate students hailing from various nationalities, backgrounds, and academic experiences. Accumulating over 2000 hours of teaching experience, I am proud to hold the distinction of being recognized as an Associate Fellow by the UK Higher Education Academy, an acknowledgement that underscores
my commitment to excellence in teaching. My commitment to academic service, as demonstrated by my curriculum vitae, is evident in my multifaceted roles. This includes mentoring both undergraduate and graduate students, active participation on academic committees, and active engagement in various initiatives to advance the institution’s academic objectives. Additionally, I have had the privilege of guiding over seven graduate students and providing mentorship to four doctoral candidates. Furthermore, I have served as an academic advisor for more than 35 graduate students. Moreover, my involvement extends to my role as a reviewer for over 15 journals
and five major conferences in the field of automation, control, and robotics.
Lecturer
Teaching
Department of Engineering and Mathematics
College of Business, Technology and Engineering
Regional (UK-based Projects):
Cooperative Swarm Optimisation of Unmanned Surface Vehicles; Funding Agency: Department for International Development (DFID) project in collaboration with Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, UK; Amount: 1M£; Role: PI and PhD Student
International (Only Selected Ones):
Purdue-UNSA Robotic Water Quality Monitoring and Distribution Systems; Funding Agency: UNSA-NEXUS project in collaboration with research partners from Peru (UNSA) and USA (Purdue University); Amount: 365K£, Role: Lead Researcher
SSAVe: Shared Situational Awareness for Marine Vessels; Funding Agency: Belgium Government; Amount: 2M£, Role: Lead Researcher
Design and Development of a Laboratory Underwater Glider; Funding Agency: Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) project in collaboration with the Department of Ocean Engineering (Indian Institute of Technology-Madras); Amount: 4K £, Role: Lead Researcher and MS Student
For a detailed project portfolio: https://yogangsingh.github.io/
Subject area or group:
- Electrical, Electronics and Future Technologies (EEFT)
Courses taught:
- MSc Automation Control and Robotics
- BEng Mechanical Engineering
- BEng Aerospace Engineering
- BEng Railway Engineering (DA)
Modules taught:
Sheffield Hallam University:
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Level 7- Control of Linear Systems (2023-2024): Module Leader
Level 7- Advanced Control Methods (2022-2023): Co Module Leader
Level 6- Mechatronics & Automated Systems (2023-2024): Module Leader
Level 5- Control and Instrumentation for Aerospace (2022-2023): Instructor
Level 6- Advanced Railway Engineering (2022-2023): Instructor
University of Plymouth (UK):
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Level 6 - Robotics and Control Theory (2016-2017, 2017-2018): Instructor/Demonstrator
Level 6 - Introduction to Robotics (2017-2018): Instructor/Demonstrator
Level 6 - Fundamentals of Robotics Manipulator (2017-2018): Instructor/Demonstrator
Research
Path Following Experiments with Small Autonomous Marine Vehicles
Simulation-Based Control of Marine Autonomous Surface Ships
Trajectory Planning and Control of an Underwater Robot
https://engineering.purdue.edu/PRWQ
https://yogangsingh.github.io/
Autonomous Marine Systems (AMS) Research Group, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom
Smart Machine and Assistive Robotics Technology (SMART) Lab, Purdue University, United States of America
Intelligent Mobile Platform (IMP) Research Group, KU Leuven, Belgium
Industrial Systems Engineering (ISyE) Research Group, Gent University, Belgium
Publications
Journal articles
Szyrowski, T., Khan, A., Pemberton, R., Sharma, S.K., Singh, Y., & Polvara, R. (2022). Range extension for electromagnetic detection of subsea power and telecommunication cables. Journal of Marine Engineering & Technology, 21 (2), 65-72. http://doi.org/10.1080/20464177.2019.1634966
Guevara, S., Singh, Y., Shores, A., Mercado, J., Postigo, M., Garcia, J., & Newell, B. (2020). Development of a Pilot Smart Irrigation System for Peruvian Highlands. Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education, 171 (1), 49-62. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1936-704x.2020.3344.x
Mina, T., Singh, Y., & Min, B.-.C. (2020). Maneuvering Ability-Based Weighted Potential Field Framework for Multi-USV Navigation, Guidance, and Control. Marine Technology Society Journal, 54 (4), 40-58. http://doi.org/10.4031/mtsj.54.4.6
Singh, Y., Sharma, S., Sutton, R., & Hatton, D. (2018). Towards use of Dijkstra Algorithm for Optimal Navigation of an Unmanned Surface Vehicle in a Real-Time Marine Environment with results from Artificial Potential Field. TransNav, the International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation, 12 (1), 125-131. http://doi.org/10.12716/1001.12.01.14
Singh, Y., Sharma, S., Sutton, R., Hatton, D., & Khan, A. (2018). A constrained A* approach towards optimal path planning for an unmanned surface vehicle in a maritime environment containing dynamic obstacles and ocean currents. Ocean Engineering, 169, 187-201. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2018.09.016
Singh, Y., Sharma, S., Hatton, D., & Sutton, R. (2018). Optimal path planning of unmanned surface vehicles. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences, 47 (7), 1325-1334.
Mir-Nasiri, N. (2017). Human - exoskeleton interaction via tactile sensors for the motion assistance. Journal of Applied Mechanical Engineering, 06 (06). http://doi.org/10.4172/2168-9873-c1-014
Singh, Y., Bhattacharyya, S.K., & Idichandy, V.G. (2017). CFD approach to modelling, hydrodynamic analysis and motion characteristics of a laboratory underwater glider with experimental results. Journal of Ocean Engineering and Science, 2 (2), 90-119. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.joes.2017.03.003
Peeters, G., Van Baelen, S., Yayla, G., Catoor, T., Afzal, M.R., Christofakis, C., ... Slaets, P. (n.d.). Decoupled Hydrodynamic Models and Their Outdoor Identification for an Unmanned Inland Cargo Vessel with Embedded Fully Rotatable Thrusters. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 8 (11), 889. http://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8110889
González-Prieto, J.A., Pérez-Collazo, C., & Singh, Y. (n.d.). Adaptive Integral Sliding Mode Based Course Keeping Control of Unmanned Surface Vehicle. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 10 (1), 68. http://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10010068
Singh, Y., Bibuli, M., Zereik, E., Sharma, S., Khan, A., & Sutton, R. (n.d.). A Novel Double Layered Hybrid Multi-Robot Framework for Guidance and Navigation of Unmanned Surface Vehicles in a Practical Maritime Environment. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 8 (9), 624. http://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8090624
Conference papers
Yayla, G., Christofakis, C., Storms, S., Catoor, T., Pilozzi, P., Singh, Y., ... Slaets, P. (2021). Measuring the Impact of a Navigation Aid in Unmanned Ship Handling via a Shore Control Center. In Advances in Human Factors in Robots, Unmanned Systems and Cybersecurity, (pp. 52-59). Springer International Publishing: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79997-7_7
Haseltalab, A., Garofano, V., & Afzal, M.R. (2020). The Collaborative Autonomous Shipping Experiment (CASE): Motivations, Theory, Infrastructure, and Experimental Challenges. Proceedings of the International Ship Control Systems Symposium (iSCSS). http://doi.org/10.24868/issn.2631-8741.2020.014
Yayla, G., Van Baelen, S., & Peeters, G. (2020). Accuracy Benchmark of Galileo and EGNOS for Inland Waterways. Proceedings of the International Ship Control Systems Symposium (iSCSS). http://doi.org/10.24868/issn.2631-8741.2020.009
Luo, S., Singh, Y., Yang, H., Bae, J.H., Dietz, J.E., Diao, X., & Min, B.-.C. (2019). Image Processing and Model-Based Spill Coverage Path Planning for Unmanned Surface Vehicles. OCEANS 2019 MTS/IEEE SEATTLE. http://doi.org/10.23919/oceans40490.2019.8962662
Bae, J.H., Min, B.-.C., Luo, S., Kannan, S.S., Singh, Y., Lee, B., ... Aguilar, L.P. (2019). Development of an Unmanned Surface Vehicle for Remote Sediment Sampling with a Van Veen Grab Sampler. OCEANS 2019 MTS/IEEE SEATTLE. http://doi.org/10.23919/oceans40490.2019.8962837
Mina, T., Singh, Y., & Min, B.-.C. (2019). A Novel Double Layered Weighted Potential Field Framework for Multi-USV Navigation towards Dynamic Obstacle Avoidance in a Constrained Maritime Environment. OCEANS 2019 MTS/IEEE SEATTLE. http://doi.org/10.23919/oceans40490.2019.8962675
Bibuli, M., Singh, Y., Sharma, S., Sutton, R., Hatton, D., & Khan, A. (2018). A Two Layered Optimal Approach towards Cooperative Motion Planning of Unmanned Surface Vehicles in a Constrained Maritime Environment. IFAC-PapersOnLine, 51 (29), 378-383. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2018.09.458
Singh, Y., Sharma, S., Sutton, R., Hatton, D., & Khan, A. (2018). Feasibility study of a constrained Dijkstra approach for optimal path planning of an unmanned surface vehicle in a dynamic maritime environment. 2018 IEEE International Conference on Autonomous Robot Systems and Competitions (ICARSC). http://doi.org/10.1109/icarsc.2018.8374170
Singh, Y., Sharma, S., Sutton, R., & Hatton, D. (2017). Optimal Path Planning of an Unmanned Surface Vehicle in a Real- Time Marine Environment using a Dijkstra Algorithm. Marine Navigation. http://doi.org/10.1201/9781315099132-70
Abed, W., Polvara, R., Singh, Y., Sharma, S., Sutton, R., Hatton, D., ... Wan, J. (2016). Advanced feature extraction and dimensionality reduction for unmanned underwater vehicle fault diagnosis. 2016 UKACC 11th International Conference on Control (CONTROL). http://doi.org/10.1109/control.2016.7737596
Upadhyay, V.K., Singh, Y., & Idichandy, V.G. (2015). Modelling and control of an underwater laboratory glider. 2015 IEEE Underwater Technology (UT). http://doi.org/10.1109/ut.2015.7108311
Kannappa Palaniappan P, , Singh, Y., & Idichandy, V.G. (2015). Numerical study of a twin sphere pressure hull and outer fairing for manned submersible. 2015 IEEE Underwater Technology (UT). http://doi.org/10.1109/ut.2015.7108230
Singh, Y., Bhattacharyya, S.K., & Idichandy, V.G. (2014). CFD approach to steady state analysis of an underwater glider. 2014 Oceans - St. John's. http://doi.org/10.1109/oceans.2014.7002977
Singh, Y. (2023). Hacia un vehículo submarino modular no tripulado. In 10th National Congress of R&D in Defense and Security (DESEi+d 2023), Cartagena, Spain, 14 November 2023 - 16 November 2023.
Book chapters
Chamani, C., Aghezzaf, E.-.H., Khatab, A., Raa, B., Singh, Y., & Cottyn, J. (2021). An Integrated Single-Item Lot-Sizing Problem in a Two-Stage Industrial Symbiosis Supply Chain with Stochastic Demands. In Advances in Production Management Systems. Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable and Resilient Production Systems. (pp. 683-693). Springer International Publishing: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85902-2_73
Uzunosmanoglu, M., Raa, B., Limère, V., De Cock, A., Singh, Y., Lopez, A.J., ... Cottyn, J. (2021). Aggregate Planning for Multi-product Assembly Lines with Reconfigurable Cells. In Advances in Production Management Systems. Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable and Resilient Production Systems. (pp. 525-534). Springer International Publishing: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85902-2_56
Van De Ginste, L., De Cock, A., Van Alboom, A., Singh, Y., Aghezzaf, E.-.H., & Cottyn, J. (2021). A Formal Skill Model Facilitating the Design and Operation of Flexible Assembly Workstations. In Advances in Production Management Systems. Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable and Resilient Production Systems. (pp. 108-116). Springer International Publishing: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85914-5_12
Singh, Y., Sharma, S., Sutton, R., Hatton, D., & Khan, A. (2019). Efficient optimal path planning of unmanned surface vehicles. In Navigation and Control of Autonomous Marine Vehicles. (pp. 31-60). Institution of Engineering and Technology: http://doi.org/10.1049/pbtr011e_ch2
Other activities
Academic Year 2022-2023
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Role: Academic Advisor for 35 students
Role: Work Experience Mentor for 9 students
Role: Open Day Coordinator- Robotics & Control Lab
Role: Second Examiner - 2 MSc Thesis
Academic Year 2023-2024
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Role: Academic Advisor for 30 students
Role: Work Experience Mentor for 11 students
Role: Open Day Coordinator for UG and PG Program- Robotics & Control Lab
Role: Rapporteur - 1 PhD Student
Postgraduate supervision
Masters Thesis
Role: Co-Advisor
2020 (KU Leuven, Belgium): Luk Leemans (Graduated) & Yentl Michels (Graduated; Pursuing second master's at KU Leuven, Belgium)
Thesis Title: Design, Build and Installation of a Bow Thruster on 1/25 scale model of a Watertruck + Self-Propelling Barge
The goal of this thesis was the design, build and installation of a bow thruster on a 1/25 scale model of a Watertruck+ self-propelling barge. The CAD model was validated with Bifilar experiments followed by outdoor experiments for different path-following scenarios.
PhD Students
Role: Mentoring
2019 (Purdue University): Dr. Tamzidul Mina (Graduated; Currently working at Sandia NL- USA), Shyam Sundar Kannan (Pursuing), Dr. Jun Han Bae(Graduated; Currently postdoc at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) and Dr. Shaocheng Luo (Graduated; Currently postdoc at University of Alberta, Canada)
A Multi-USV framework for Navigation and Guidance of USVs was developed with Dr. Tamzidul Mina selected for IEEE OES Student Poster Competition (20 abstracts selected globally) with award of Student Travel Grant to present the work in IEEE OCEANS 2019 Seattle (Source: SMART Lab)
A conceptual framework for monitoring the oil spill in harbours was developed with Dr. Shaocheng Luo using concepts of coverage path planning and remote sensing technology and work was presented in IEEE OCEANS 2019 Seattle (Source: SMART Lab)
Bachelor Students
Role: Mentoring
2019 (Purdue University): Pou Hei Chan (Pursuing) and Yuta Haoshi (Graduated; Current a masters student at Carnegie Mellon University, USA)
PhD
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Role: Second Supervisor
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2024 (Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom): Benjamin Maduka Ilo (Thesis Title: Quality Assessment and Process Optimization of Rice Milling using Artificial Intelligence Technologies)
Masters Thesis
Role: Advisor
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2023 (Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom): VS Babu (Graduated)- Path Planning for Mobile Robots using Evolutionary Algorithms; NR Janga (Ongoing)- Trajectory Planning and Control of an Underwater Robot; D Teketi (Ongoing) - Transmission Stability for generators using PID control; T. Aiyelari (Ongoing) - Path Following Experiments with Small Autonomous Marine Vehicles; IA Obia (Ongoing) - MPC-based Automatic Flow Control System for Water level in a Water Tank; S Sangar (Ongoing)- MARUS based PID Control of Marine Autonomous Surface Ships
Role: Co-Advisor
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2020 (KU Leuven, Belgium): Luk Leemans (Graduated) & Yentl Michels (Graduated; Pursuing second masters at KU Leuven, Belgium)
Thesis Title: Design, Build and Installation of a Bow Thruster on 1/25 scale model of a Watertruck + Self-Propelling Barge