Qinmin Yang

Zhejiang University

Qinmin Yang, a native of Hengyang, Hunan Province, is a professor and doctoral supervisor at Zhejiang University, and has been selected as a Changjiang Scholar by the Ministry of Education. He is mainly engaged in the research of industrial data intelligence, renewable energy and energy internet, intelligent control system theory and other directions. In the past five years, he has presided over more than 10 national projects/projects, including the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) joint key and top level projects, 863 projects of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (MOST), intelligent manufacturing projects of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China (MIIT), and multi-million horizontal projects. He has published more than 100 papers and 3 chapters in English, and has been selected as one of the top 2% of the world's top scientists in the “Annual Scientific Influence Ranking” by Stanford University and Elsevier database. He has obtained 4 U.S. patents and more than 80 Chinese invention patents. He is a senior member of IEEE, a member of ASME and APNNS, a vice-chairman of the ADPRL Committee of the Chinese Society of Automation, a member of the Control Theory and Application Committee, the Energy Internet Committee and the Youth Working Committee, and the secretary-general of the New Energy Group of the Control Theory Committee of the Chinese Society of Automation, and he serves as a member of the IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics: Systems, Transactions of the Institute of Measurement and Control, Transactions of the Institute of Measurement and Control, Journal of Automation (English Edition) and other domestic and international journals. He has served as the program chair and registration chair of ICIST 2022, RTCSA 2019, NVMSA 2019, ICONIP 2017 and the organizing committee member of many international conferences. He was awarded the first prize and the second prize of Zhejiang Provincial Scientific and Technological Progress, the first prize of Automation Society Scientific and Technological Progress, the second prize of Natural Science, the second prize of Natural Science of Wu Wenjun Artificial Intelligence, and the Mentor Award of Excellent Thesis of Automation Society. He was awarded the honors of Leading Talent of Zhejiang Province Ten Thousand People Plan, Qianjiang Talent of Zhejiang Province, and the first batch of Qiuyu Young Scholars of Zhejiang University.

Speech Title: Theoretical Research and Practice in Intelligent Control for Wind Turbines

Abstract: Wind energy has been considered to be a promising alternative to current fossil-based energies. Large-scale wind turbines have been widely deployed to substantiate the renewable energy strategy of various countries. In this talk, challenges faced by control community for high reliable and efficient exploitation of wind energy are discussed. Advanced controllers are designed to (partially) overcome problems, such as uncertainty, intermittence, and intense dynamics. Theoretical results and attempts for practice are both present.

Wei Xu

Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Wei Xu (Fellow, IEEE) received the double B.E. and M.E. degrees from Tianjin University, Tianjin, China, in 2002 and 2005, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree from the Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IEECAS), Beijing, China, in 2008, all in electrical engineering. His research topics mainly focus on the design and control of linear machines and drives.
From Sep. 2008 to Sep. 2013, he was a Post-Doctoral Fellow with the University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia, the Vice-Chancellor Research Fellow with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, and a Japan Science Promotion Society Invitation Fellow with Meiji University, Tokyo, Japan, respectively. From Oct. 2013 to Dec. 2023, he was a Professor with the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. Since Jan. 2024, he has been a Professor with IEECAS. Dr. Xu is Director for State Key Laboratory for High Density Electromagnetic Power and Systems, an IEEE Fellow and an IET Fellow. He is General Chair of 2021 International Symposium on Linear Drives for Industry Applications (LDIA) and 2023 IEEE International Conference on Predictive Control of Electrical Drives and Power Electronics (PRECEDE). He is one Associate Editor of over ten peer-reviewed IEEE JOURNALS, including IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS and IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS. He has published 4 books, over 180 journal papers in IEEE Series, and been awarded more than 150 intentional patents granted, which has been cited by over 11,000 times with H-index 52 based on Google Scholar statistics.

Speech Title: Advances in Linear Oscillatory Machines and Drive Systems

Abstract: The main subject of the speech is the design and control strategies for linear oscillatory machine (LOM) and drive system. Starting with a brief introduction to the development and categories of LOMs, their potential applications will be exposed in particular. One new type of double stator permanent magnet switched flux LOM will be introduced, with emphasis on the design of the parallel magnetic circuit and the principle of how the LOM utilizes the working magnetic field to simultaneously generate permanent magnet thrust and high positioning force. And the resonant frequency tracking control and sensorless control strategies specifically designed for LOM will be introduced in details. Finally, conclusions will be given out and emerging directions/techniques of LOMs and drives are prospected briefly. 

Zhipeng Wang

Jiangxi Normal University

Zhipeng Wang is a full Professor at School of Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi Normal University, and an Appointed Professor at Faculty of Engineering, Shinshu University. He obtained his Ph.D. degree at Nagoya Institute of Technology in 2009. Then, he worked as Postdoctoral Fellow, Research Administrator, Assistant Professor, and Research Fellow in Nagoya Institute of Technology, Hosei University, Shinshu University, and The University of Tokyo, respectively. He joined in Jiangxi Normal University in 2018. Currently, he has interests in synthesis of nanocarbons and their applications in the fields of electrochemical storage and conversion, solar-thermal energy conversion, photo/photoelectrochemical catalysis, and environmental remediation and protection.

Speech Title: Vertical graphene: synthesis, characterization, and application of supercapacitors

Abstract: Vertical graphene (VG), also named as carbon/graphene nanowalls, carbon nanosheets, graphene nanoflakes, is composed of few-layer graphene sheets, which stand almost perpendicularly on the substrates with open structures and a large amount of edges. Due to their novel features and physiochemical properties, the VG films have attracted great interest in a variety of applications, such as field emission, catalyst supports/catalysts, biosensors, energy storage and conversion. Until now, there are various methods employed for the synthesis of VG, including radio frequency sputtering, laser ablation, chemical vapor deposition, and plasma-enhanced CVD (PECVD). Among them, PECVD technique is the most popular and effective for synthesizing the VG films, which were strongly affected by plasma source, precursor, gas, substrate, growth pressure and temperature. Based on the different synthesis conditions, the VG films with various morphologies, e.g., isolated nanosheets, maze-/petal-like structure, and highly branched type, have been achieved. In the coming presentation, we will introduce recent development of VG in synthesis, characterization, and application in supercapacitors in our group.

Raffaele CARLI

Polytechnic University of Bari

Raffaele Carli received his Laurea degree in Electronic Engineering with honours in 2002 and his PhD in Electrical and Information Engineering in 2016, both from Politecnico di Bari, Italy. From 2003 to 2004, he was a Reserve Officer with Italian Navy. From 2004 to 2012, he worked as System and Control Engineer and Technical Manager for a multinational company in the space and defense sector.

Currently, Dr. Carli is a Senior Assistant Professor in Systems and Control Engineering at Politecnico di Bari, where he is the technical lead for the Decision and Control Laboratory (coordinated by prof. Mariagrazia Dotoli) within the Department of Electric and Information Engineering. He has held national qualifications as an Associate Professor since 2021 and as a Full Professor since 2023. Since 2022, he has served as Vice-Coordinator of the National PhD program in Autonomous Systems.

Dr. Carli serves on the editorial board of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) journals as an Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering (awarded 2023 Best Associate Editor) and IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics. He is also an active member of the conference editorial boards of various events sponsored by IFAC (International Federation of Automatic Control) and IEEE, including those sponsored by the IEEE Control Systems Society (CSS), IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS), and IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society (SMCS). His organizational roles include positions on the committees of several IEEE conferences, such as Young Career Chair of the 2017 IEEE International Conference on Automation Science and Engineering,  Publication Co-chair of the 2015 IEEE International Conference on Automation Science and Engineering, Tutorial Co-chair of the 2023 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics, Finance Chair and Special Session Chair of the 2024 IEEE International Conference on Automation Science and Engineering. He also serves as General Chair of the upcoming IFAC Workshop on Smart Energy Systems for Efficient and Sustainable Smart Grids and Smart Cities (SENSYS 2025).

An IEEE Senior Member since 2022, Dr. Carli currently serves as the Mentorship Subcommittee Chair of the Membership and Student Activities Committee within the IEEE SMCS for the 2023-2024 and 2025-2026 terms. Additionally, he currently serves as the Secretary of the IEEE Italy Section Chapter CS23 of the CSS for the 2025-2026 term.

Dr. Carli has authored over 110 printed international publications. His research focuses on developing decision and control techniques for modeling, optimizing, managing, and controlling complex, large-scale systems, particularly in smart frameworks such as industry and energy. He received the 2024 IEEE Italy Section SMCS Chapter Award for Excellence in Early Career Research.

Speech Title: Decision and control techniques for sustainable rural energy communities: a focus on agro-voltaics

Abstract: Rural energy communities play a crucial role in driving sustainable development through the integration of agriculture and energy systems. In this context, the talk focuses on agro-voltaics, an innovative approach that blends photovoltaic technology with agricultural practices to optimize land use efficiency and enhance resource sustainability in rural areas. The talk specifically explores two scenarios: rural photovoltaic farms and integrated agro-voltaic plants, with a keen emphasis on optimizing layout and system performance. Detailed analysis of objectives and system modeling methodologies is provided for each scenario, alongside simulation results from practical applications, offering insights into agro-voltaics' potential impact on energy production and agriculture sustainability.

Pin Jern Ker

Sunway University, Malaysia

Dr. Ker, Pin Jern is a Professor in the School of Engineering & Technology, Sunway University, Malaysia. He is a project leader or member of various government and industrial research projects, with a total amount of > MYR 20 million (>USD 4 million). He has published >130 journal papers (WoS-indexed Q1 & Q2) and >60 Scopus / WoS (Q3 & Q4) indexed journal papers. He has served as an invited speaker for technical talks by several engineering-related organizations such as IEEE, IMechE, IET and Institution of Engineers Malaysia. His research interests are the application of artificial intelligence and development of intelligent system for energy-related applications, such as renewable energy and energy storage system. He is a Chartered Engineer (CEng.) and is awarded as the World’s Top 2% most-cited scientists for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Speech Title: Recent Progress in Battery and Hydrogen Energy Storage System for Microgrid Applications and Their Future Prospects

Abstract: The world is transitioning from fossil fuel to renewable energy in many aspects including the electricity network and transportation. However, the integration of renewable energy poses several challenges due to the intermittency and unpredictable energy production. In this talk, we will explore on several research initiatives in employing battery energy storage system together with its optimization methods for microgrid application in ensuring power quality for the electrical loads with optimum renewable energy utilization and lifetime of battery. Furthermore, the feasibility of including the hydrogen technology as an energy storage system (electrolyzer, fuel cell and hydrogen storage tanks) will also be discussed together with its impact on the stability of the microgrid when it is integrated with renewable energy and battery energy storage system. The future prospects and applications of hydrogen technology in microgrid applications will also be discussed to trigger more future research work in this area.