Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

United States Military Academy at West Point

Autonomous Vehicle, Robotics, Machine and Deep Learning Technology and Business Expert

Champaign, Illinois, United States

- With a $30k per year budget and in less than 1.5 years, developed and won 2 government contracts for 3 years for $1.2M each with options for up to $3M each in autonomous systems.
-  Director and founder of the Illinois Autonomous and Unmanned Systems Laboratory
-  Member of the Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering Department
-  Affiliate of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
-  Affiliate of the Illinois Center for Autonomy
-  Developed an independent, vibrant research program and provided professional leadership within the Department, the College, the Campus, and the professional community.
-   Engaged in collaborative activities across campus and industry in a manner consistent with scientific program and expertise.
-  Member of the area of Decision and Control Systems
-  Instructor for Autonomous Systems and Systems Engineering

Clinical Associate Professor

The Autonomous and Unmanned Vehicle Systems Laboratory (AUVSL) was founded by Professor William (Robert) Norris in 2017.

AUVSL develops solutions for real world government and industry problems, with a goal of building a technology pipeline from research to commercialization. We use multi-disciplinary approaches and state of the art technologies in systems engineering, machine learning, vision systems, mechatronics, controls, expert systems, dynamic modeling, industrial engineering, and sensor fusion. Undergraduate and graduate students engage in projects with deliverables involving hands-on basic and applied research in autonomy with applications on land (on-road and off-road), in the air and underwater. Please contact us to learn about opportunities for corporate engagement with the lab and newly formed center.
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AUVSL's Research Themes
- Adaptive, Stable, Robust and Explainable AI for Control
- Nonlinear Vehicle and Implement Control
- Dynamic Modeling – system identification
Extended and Unscented Kalman Filters and AI representations
Model based dynamic planning
- Sensor Fusion
Vision with UWB/ Vision with LIDAR and IR
Multiple System integrated terrain mapping
- Terrain Mapping and Characterization
- Multiple System/ Vehicle Interaction/ Cooperation
Swarming, Task Completion
- Adaptive Human in the Loop Systems
- Test Courses
Requirements generation, comparison, evaluation
Navigation, ODOA, Safety
Goal - Create a modular, systems-based approach to developing complete offroad autonomous navigation and task completion package

Autonomous and Unmanned Vehicle Systems Laboratory (AUVSL)

Founder and Director

Rubin/Anders has developed a talented pool of experts in science, technology, economics and finance in order to assist law firms, corporations and regulatory agencies in every aspect of rule-making and litigation that requires unassailable expertise.  Consulting services provided include patents, intellectual property, science, technology and economics.

Rubin/Anders Scientific, Inc.

Consultant/ Subject Matter Expert

Innovative Mechatronic System Solutions (iMS2) LLC provides the government and commercial security organizations with innovative products and services that effectively and efficiently enhance human capabilities and saves lives.

Innovative Mechatronic System Solutions LLC (iMS2)

Founder

Robust Smart Control Solutions (R-Smart) LLC is an SDVOSB engineering and business consulting firm.

Business expertise -
-  High tech business development and marketing with direct experience in off-road equipment, unmanned systems, autonomous vehicles, military and security industries.
-  Expertise in business management in developing and implementing high tech business and marketing strategies for successfully moving into new markets.
-  International business development experience.
-  Ability to easily understand advanced technologies, derive their applications and translate into actionable business opportunities.

Technical expertise -
-  Robotics, autonomous vehicles, AI, basic and advanced control systems, systems engineering, human interfaces, virtual reality, spiral development V&V, large scale program management.
-  Leading, developing, managing and delivering high risk, highly complex technical product offerings from conception through customer delivery - including contracting, technical development, product development, manufacturing, and service and support.  (Experience from R&D through large scale OEM level program management.)

Some select projects:
-  Executed project assisting a small high tech company gain product entry into a Fortune 100 company.
-  Devised the marketing strategy and plan creating a beachhead for a Northrop Grumman subsidiary in the security industry.
-  Established the decision analysis that enabled a sourcing decision saving over $3M.
-  Mentored 150 start-up companies in marketing, business and technology strategies for market entry
-  Launched a new product market entry strategy and plan for a new robotics product..
-  Developed a marketing strategy and plan for an oxygen generation unit that led to product acceptance in the department of defense within 9 months with revenue of $30-$45M in intial volume

Robust Smart Control Solutions, LLC (RSmart)

Consultant/ Founder - High Tech Business, Robotics and Autonomous Vehicles

Innovation Fund North Carolina

Entrepreneur in Residence

- Provide assistance and advice to the chairman of the board of directors
-   Advise in areas including corporate governance, business strategy, and major decisions (mergers and acquisitions, entering new markets).

CoroWare Robotics Solutions Inc

Board of Advisors

Manager for a large-scale manufactured autonomous robotic ground vehicle (R-Gator). Oversaw and participated in all operations, finance, marketing, quality, sales, engineering, customer service and supply management activities.
-   Spearheaded and executed high technology marketing and business strategies for streamlining introduction of a
robotics product to military, homeland security, private security and emergency responder market segments.
-   Planned mission to develop a robotics business while building the business case. Successfully executed the strategy within 9 months.
-   Worked with public affairs, lobbyists and congressional representatives to acquire funding resources.
-   Reported weekly to senior management at the division president, senior vice president, and vice president levels.
-   Established strategic senior executive relationships and connections across several markets including the off-road equipment, military, DHS, private security and robotics industries.

John Deere, Commercial and Consumer Equipment (C&CE)

Business Manager Autonomous Vehicles

Consumer Robotics - Nov 2007 - Oct. 2008
-  Oversaw the development of the business case for a consumer autonomous robotic application including market research, financial analysis, competitive intelligence, technology development and business strategy.
R-Gator - Jan 2006 - April 2008
-   Led 45 staff in an inter-disciplinary $20 million joint venture program.
-   Directed the creation of the first large-scale manufactured autonomous unmanned ground vehicle from concept as the conceiver through customer delivery, enabling sales of six systems.
-   Created an enterprise milestone with the first sale of a Deere internally created autonomous unmanned system.
-   Managed the relationship between a high tech and a traditional manufacturing company with an internationally dispersed team.  Reported and gained consensus with senior management (president, CFO, senior directors) from two companies.

Program Manager Autonomous Vehicles

- Technical lead/ systems engineer on several unmanned system/ robotic programs.
-   Facilitated all aspects of mechanical, electrical and software design as it related to robotics and autonomy.
-   Created and managed intellectual property at the division level and developed industry leading patent strategies.
-   Project management – $500k worth of research and development projects in addition to position responsibilities.

Program Engineer

- Performed advanced research and coordinated external projects with universities, government agencies and research institutes to attain research objectives
-  Initiated and led three enterprise-level Communities of Practice with over 150 members each in control systems, system engineering and robotics.
-  Co-developed short term and 20 year technology strategies in robotics/automation, control systems and system engineering that were implemented across the enterprise.

Staff Engineer - Autonomous System Engineer

- Developed revolutionary virtual simulation techniques in adaptive control system design involving virtual environments, adaptive electro-hydraulic control, artificial intelligence techniques, and their use in manufacturing and design.
-  Developed new form of autonomous vehicle system control.
-  Developed innovative method for making machines smarter so that they adapt to human operators and perform better together.
-  Used expert systems, machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques.

National Center for Supercomputer Applications, (NCSA) at UIUC

Researcher

- Coordinated and project managed technology evaluation and installation projects at remote sites with manufacturers, contractors, government personnel and consultants.

William Robert (Bob) Norris, Ph.D., MBA