RANCS Research Lab

Congratulations to our PhD student Parisa Ansari Bonab for defending her PhD dissertation successfully. Parisa developed safe and secure control algorithms for connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) during past several years and tested and validated them using one of our passenger vehicles. Parisa's publication record is amazing showcasing her dedication to the safety and security of CAVs: 4 published journal papers, 2 under review journal papers, 2 published conference papers including one best paper award, one accepted conference paper, and one under review conference paper!

Great to be with the RANCS Research Lab and the team of Arman Sargolzaei including Matthew Okashita and Dev Thakkar showing off the incredible and easy-to-use features of the GeneSys Elektronik #ADMA (Automotive Dynamic Motion Analyzer). Especially since I left Detroit at 25degF and am now enjoying sunny and 75degF! ??

On Friday, February 28, RANCS Research Lab participated in the Engineering Expo organized by the University of South Florida. This event provided an excellent opportunity to showcase our vehicles and technological capabilities while promoting STEM education among current and aspiring engineers, scientists, and students. Through interactive demonstrations, we engaged with peers, community members, and K-12 students, fostering interest in engineering and autonomous vehicle technologies.

Our recent research paper entitled "A Secure Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control Design with Unknown Leader Dynamics Under False Data Injection Attacks" has been published by Computers Journal. Congrats to Parisa Ansari Bonab and Dr. Arman Sargolzaei. https://lnkd.in/dgbyMY2i

Our recent research paper entitled "Testing and Verification of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles: A Review" has been published by Electronics Journal. Congrats to Hayleyesus Alemayehu, and Dr. Arman Sargolzaei. Abstract: There remains a significant gap in review papers that comprehensively summarize recent studies related to the testing and verification of CAVs while identifying current challenges and highlighting future research directions. This paper seeks to address this gap by presenting a comprehensive review of the existing testing and verification frameworks for CAVs and identifying their associated challenges. Key topics covered include scenario generation, verification cost functions, assertion values, and security considerations. Furthermore, the paper highlights limitations within current frameworks, emphasizing the gaps that hinder systematic and comprehensive evaluations. https://lnkd.in/eMnxziRp

Our recent research paper entitled "A Reinforcement Learning-Based Parameter Tuning Approach for a Secure Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control System" has been published by SAE International Journal of Connected and Automated Vehicles. Congrats to Farahnaz Javidi Niroumand, and Dr. Arman Sargolzaei. https://lnkd.in/e272w5v3

Congratulations to our PhD student Farahnaz Javidi Niroumand for defending her PhD proposals successfully. Farahnaz Javidi Niroumand is developing a systematic approach using reinforcement learning to test and verify the safety and security of connected and autonomous vehicles.

As part of our project titled "Infrastructure Enablers for Reliable Cooperative Driving Automation (CDA)," funded by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), we recently conducted a vehicle-in-the-loop simulation using CARLA. https://lnkd.in/eGd_dVnW USF College of Engineering, USF Mechanical Engineering #Testing, #Verification, #CDA, #CAV, #RANCS

Congratulations to our PhD student, Hamed F., on being selected to receive a Dissertation Completion Fellowship from the Office of Graduate Studies at the University of South Florida for the Spring 2025 semester.

The RANCS research lab at USF College of Engineering and the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida recently received $579K from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), through the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA), to support the development, testing, and verification of autonomous transit buses specifically for bus yard operations. The initiative aims to ensure that the technology is safe, scalable, and ready for real-world deployment, representing a significant step toward the future of smarter and safer public transportation.