Symposium
Ultra-Precision Positioning Systems

Piezo drive systems as an enabling technology for future automation, biomedical, manufacturing and metrological applications
November 17, 2008

Speaker information

Prof. Hendrik Van Brussel

Prof. Hendrik Van Brussel (°1944), is full professor in mechatronics and automation at the Faculty of Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (K.U.Leuven), Belgium, chairman of the Division of Production engineering, Machine design and Automation, Department of Mechanical Engineering. He received his B.Sc ME (Technisch Ingenieur) degree from Hoger Technisch Instituut, Oostende, Belgium, in 1965, and his M. Sc. EE (Burgerlijk Ingenieur) and PhD degrees from K.U.Leuven, Belgium, in 1968 and 1971 respectively. From 1971 until 1973 he was active in Bandung, Indonesia, establishing a Metal Industries Development Centre and as an associate professor at Institut Teknologi Bandung. He was a pioneer in robotics research in Europe and an active promoter of the mechatronics idea as a new paradigm in machine design. He has published extensively on different aspects of robotics, mechatronics and flexible automation. His present research interest is also shifting towards holonic manufacturing systems, behaviour based robots, and micro and precision engineering, including microrobotics. He is Fellow of SME and IEEE. He received a honorary doctor degree from Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH), Aachen, Germany, from ‘Politehnica’ University in Bucarest, Romania, and from ‘Transilvania’ University Brasov, Romania. In 2001-2002 he served as President of CIRP (International Institution for Production Engineering Research). He is a Member of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Sciences and Fine Arts, and Foreign Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA).

Prof. Dominiek Reynaerts

Dominiek Reynaerts was born in Tienen, Belgium, in 1963. He received the mechanical engineering degree and the Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering, with a dissertation titled "Control methods and actuation technology for whole-hand dexterous manipulation", from the Katholieke Universiteit (K.U.) Leuven, Belgium, in 1986 and 1995, respectively. His research activities are in precision mechanics, microrobotics, and micromechanical systems. He currently is chairman of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at K.U.Leuven.

Edwin Verschueren

Edwin R.M. Verschueren graduated in December 1995 at the Technical University Eindhoven in mechanical engineering with specialization in dynamics and control. Worked for 4 as mechanical designer and control engineer for ASML, Joined FEI Company in 2001 and continued working as control engineer. Responsibilities are: exploring innovative technologies in motion control for electron microscopes; design of mechatronic systems: design and specification of(software, electronics and mechanics; building competence on controlled mechatronic systems

Huub Janssen

1985: Graduated from the Technical University of Eindhoven, division Mechanical Engineering, specialisation Precision Mechanics. 1985-1987: Construction of precise mechanical systems and project leader at ASML. 1987-1991: Project leader production tools for LCD manufacturing at Philips. Since 1991: Founder and CEO of Janssen Precision Engineering (JPE), located near Maastricht Airport.

Prof. Kenji Uchino

Kenji Uchino, one of the pioneers in piezoelectric actuators, is Director of International Center for Actuators and Transducers and Professor of EE at Penn State University. He is also Founder and Senior Vice President & CTO of Micromechatronics Inc., State College, PA. After being awarded his Ph. D. degree from Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan, he became Research Associate in physical electronics department at this university. Then, he joined Sophia University, Japan as an Associate Professor in physics in 1985. He then moved to Penn State in 1991. He was also involved with Space Shuttle Utilizing Committee in NASDA, Japan during 1986-88, and Vice President of NF Electronic Instruments, USA, during 1992-94. He is the Chair of Smart Actuator/Sensor Study Committee sponsored by Japanese MITI. He was also the associate editor for Journal of Advanced Performance Materials, J. Intelligent Materials Systems and Structures and Japanese Journal of Applied Physics. His research interests are in development of solid state actuators for precision positioners, ultrasonic motors, etc. He has authored 550 papers, 54 books and 26 patents in the ceramic actuator area. He was also awarded his MBA degree from St. Francis University (2008), and authored a new textbook,“Entrepreneurship for Engineers”. He is a Fellow of American Ceramic Society from 1997, and also is a recipient of the SPIE Smart Product Implementation Award (2007), R&D 100 Award (2007), ASME Adaptive Structures Prize (2005), Outstanding Research Award from Penn State Engineering Society (1996), Academic Scholarship from Nissan Motors Scientific Foundation (1990), Best Movie Memorial Award at Japan Scientific Movie Festival (1989), and the Best Paper Award from Japanese Society of Oil/Air Pressure Control (1987). At this symposium, professor Uchino will elaborate on key factors in the commercialisation of piezoelectric actuators.

Wim Van de Vijver

Wim Van de Vijver graduated in 2003 as a mechatronic engineer at the University of Leuven. In that same year, he started his PhD at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the same university. At this symposium, Wim will defend his PhD work which resulted in the development of the Leuven motor. His presentation will bring the attendant up to speed with the current state-of-the art in the design of piezoelectric motors.