News
Smart machine tools: concept, applications and current challenges
Please join us on Monday, August 16, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM as we welcome Dr. Petr Kolář from the Czech Technical University in Prague (Czech Republic), who will be speaking on: Smart machine tools: concept, applications and current challenges
Abstract
“Smart machine tool” is a common term for CNC machine tools that integrate multiple advanced functions. Generally, these machines are equipped with enhanced sensors and communication capabilities, allowing for unattended operation - even in low-batch production. This presentation provides an overview of the key features of smart machine tools. These machines must be capable of communication on three essential levels: internal communication across their subsystems, interaction with the operator, and external communication with other software systems and production equipment. With these capabilities, smart machines can analyze process conditions and workpiece quality using data from external sensors, control systems, and virtual model simulations. The collaboration between the physical machine and its digital twin makes it possible to assess production quality even for single-piece manufacturing. Sharing structured data via a unified platform improves the efficiency of control algorithm development. Current challenges include the standardization of system implementation and the enablement of new digital services connected to real machine tool operation.
Dr. Petr Kolář is an Associate Professor and head of the Research Center of Manufacturing Technology (RCMT) at the Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU). He earned his master’s and Ph.D. degrees at CTU, with his doctoral research focused on high-speed spindles of NC machine tools. He completed his habilitation in 2019 on the design of machine tool structures. Since joining RCMT in 2001, he has led numerous national and international research and industrial projects. He served as RCMT head from 2015 to 2019 and resumed the role in 2022. From 2020 to 2022, he was a visiting researcher at Fraunhofer IWU in Dresden. His research interests include machine tool dynamics, process-machine interaction, machining sensorics, and smart machine tools. He also serves as the scientific secretary of the Czech Society of Machine Tools.
Team of Dr. Jose Outeiro and colleagues from UNC at Charlotte finishes runner out at Blue Sky Competition Finals during NAMRC 53
Congratulations to Dr. Jose Outeiro, Dr. Marjan Molavi-Zarandi, Dr. Ali Bonakdar and Dr. Taner Tunc: the UNC Charlotte team that finished at the honorable position of runner out at the 8th annual Blue Sky Competition with their visionary idea and presentation entitled "Evolutionary Digital Twins for Design and Manufacturing in Space." This annual competition aims to shape the future of U.S. manufacturing research and education by encouraging visionary, unconventional, and breakthrough ideas. Participants should present grand challenges for manufacturing, highlighting how different fields can collaborate to achieve their vision. The finals of Blue Sky Competition and the SME David Dornfeld Manufacturing Vision Award, were held during the 2025 NAMRI | SME 53rd North American Manufacturing Research Conference (NAMRC) and ASME Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference (MSEC), June 23-27, 2025 in Greenville, South Carolina.
In the photo Dr. Taner Tunc (first on the right) and Dr. Jose Outeiro (second on the right) on stage during the announcement of the Blue Sky Competition Finals results.
Member of DEAM Lab presented her work on Immersive Digital Twins at the Undergraduate Research Conference (URC) 2025
Congratulations to Jia Holt for her excellent presentation at URC 2025! Jia is an undergraduate student at UNC Charlotte developing immersive digital twins for manufacturing education and training. Well done, Jia!
Seminar on the Integration of Ultrasonic Vibration in Sustainable Manufacturing and Agro-Food Applications
Please join us on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM as we welcome Dr. Hélder Puga from the University of Minho (Portugal), who will be speaking on: Integrating Ultrasonic Vibration into Sustainable Manufacturing and Agro-Food Applications.
Abstract
Ultrasonic treatment (UST) provides a scalable, non-chemical solution for improving material quality. Its effectiveness is driven by two core physical mechanisms: acoustic streaming, which enhances thermal and compositional uniformity, and acoustic cavitation, which generates localized high-energy events that promote phase fragmentation. To maximize these effects, a Modulated Multifrequency and Multimode (MMM) ultrasonic system has been developed. This advanced approach allows real-time frequency modulation, effectively eliminating standing waves and ensuring a uniform acoustic field throughout the medium. This presentation showcases recent advances in MMM-based ultrasonic processing, with applications in casting and agro-food. The MMM approach significantly enhances process efficiency, improves material performance, and contributes to more environmentally sustainable practices.
Dr. Hélder Puga is an Associate Professor with Habilitation in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minho, Portugal. His research focuses on developing advanced ultrasonic technologies to improve manufacturing processes, particularly emphasizing ultrasonic-assisted liquid metal treatment and hybrid manufacturing strategies that combine additive and subtractive methods. He has recently expanded his research to include applications of ultrasonic technology in the agro-food sector, concentrating on enhancing seed germination and promoting early-stage plant growth. He has published over 110 peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers in metallurgy, sonoprocessing, and sonochemistry.
Seminar on Digital Twins & Artificial Intelligence in Marine Robotics
Please join us on Thursday, March 27, 2025 from 11:30-12:30 as we welcome Dr. Tero Kaarlela and Dr. Leonardo Bobadilla from Florida International University (Miami, FL), who will be talking about: Overcoming Sensing, Communication, and Uncertainty Challenges in Marine Robotics Using Digital Twins and Artificial Intelligence.
Abstract
Several essential domains of robotics and autonomous vehicles, such as surveillance, planetary exploration, oceanic monitoring, automated construction, and search and rescue, require filtering and planning for robots in scenarios where communication, sensing, and uncertainty modeling are difficult. In this talk, we will discuss our progress and experiments with collaborators in addressing these issues in
four directions: 1) new limited-communication coordination approaches that can work in extremely low-bandwidth conditions; 2) an approach to localize and navigate using features of naturally occurring scalar field; 3) a digital twin that enables remote, device-independent access for operating an underwater robot for educational, scientific, and industrial applications; and 4) A sim-to-real approach that uses the developed digital twin to train Reinforcement Learning models to solve underwater coastal conservation tasks.
Dr. Tero Kaarlela is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Florida International University. His fields of expertise are robotics and information technology, including wireless networks, electromagnetic compatibility, simulation, digital twins, cybersecurity, and virtual reality. Before his academic career, he worked in industrial production management and planning for 20 years.
Dr. Leonardo Bobadilla is currently an Associate Professor at the Knight Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences (KFSCIS), College of Engineering and Computing at Florida International University (FIU). He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2013. He is interested in understanding the information requirements for solving fundamental robotics tasks such as navigation, patrolling, tracking, and motion safety. He has published over 70 peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers in Robotics, Control, and Oceanic Engineering. The ARL, ARPA-E, DoD, NSF, ONR, DHS, FDEP, and the Ware Foundation have sponsored his research.
DEAM Lab at the Open House of the William States Lee College of Engineering (COE)
More than 300 prospective students and parents attended the Open House of the William States Lee College of Engineering (COE) on Saturday March 22nd 2025. The DEAM Lab presented the activities of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science Department in Advanced Manufacturing, emphasizing its role in educating mechanical engineering students, driving innovative research, and advancing industrial applications. The lab demonstrated its expertise in process systems simulation and workforce training through the integration of Advanced Manufacturing Processses and Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Twins, and eXtended Reality technologies.
