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Ran Dai

Education:

  • PhD, Aerospace Engineering, 2007, Auburn University
  • Master, Aerospace Engineering, 2005, Auburn University
  • B.Sc, Automation Science and Electrical Engineering, 2002, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Research Interests:

  • Optimal Control
  • Trajectory Optimization
  • UAV Path Planning
  • Automotive Accident Reconstruction
  • Orbital Mechanics
  • Smart Grid

Journal Papers

J7. R. Dai, J. Maximoff and M. Mesbahi, “Optimal Path Planning for Establishing Connectivity in Proximity Networks”, IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, (Accepted, to appear in July 2013).
J6. R. Dai and M. Mesbahi, "Optimal Power Generation and Load Control of Heterogeneous Electric Systems via Mixed-Integer Programming," Energy Conversion and Management, (Accepted).
J5. D. Zelazo, R. Dai and M. Mesbahi, "An Energy Management System for Off-Grid Power Systems," Energy Systems, No. 3, pp. 153-179, 2012.
J4. H. Liu, Y. Chen, F. Strickland, R. Dai and B. Qi, “System Development and Application of Taylor Kriging Metamodeling”, International journal for computer-aided engineering and software, Vol. 28, No, 3, 2011, pp.220 – 241.
J3. R. Dai and J. E. Cochran, “Path Planning and State Estimation for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Hostile Environments,” Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 33, No. 2, March-April, 2010, pp. 595-601.
J2. R. Dai and J. E. Cochran, “A Wavelet Collocation Method for Optimal Control Problems,” Journal of Optimization Theory and Application, Vol. 143, No. 2, 2009, pp. 265-278.
J1. R. Dai and J. E. Cochran, “Three-Dimensional Trajectory Optimization in Constrained Aerospace,” Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 42, No. 2, 2009, pp. 627-634.

Conferences

C14. R. Dai, M. Nabi and M. Mesbahi, “Power Management for Chiller Systems by Mixed-Integer Programming and Online Learning,” 2013 IEEE Conference on Decision and Control Conference, submitted.
C13. S. Hosseini, R. Dai and M. Mesbahi, “Optimal Path Planning and Power Allocation for a Long Endurance Solar-Powered UAV”, 2013 American Control Conference, June 2013, Washington, D.C.
C12. P. Panyakeow, R. Dai and M. Mesbahi, “Optimal Trajectory for Network Establishment of Remote UAVs”, 2013 American Control Conference, June 2013, Washington, D.C.
C11. R. Dai, U. Lee, S. Hosseini and M. Mesbahi, “Optimal Path Planning for Solar-Powered UAVs based on Unit Quaternions,” 51th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control Conference, December 2012, Maui, HI.
C10. R. Dai, J. Maximoff and M. Mesbahi, “Formation of Connected Network for Fractionated Spacecraft”, 2012 AIAA Guidance, Navigation and Control Conference, Minneapolis, MN.
C9. R. Dai, J. Maximoff and M. Mesbahi, “Establishment of Proximity Networks”, 2012 American Control Conference, Montreal, Canada.
C8. R. Dai and M. Mesbahi, “Optimal Topology Design for Dynamic Networks”, 50th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control and European Control Conference, Orlando, Florida, December 2011.
C7. A. Chapman, R. Dai and M. Mesbahi, “Network Topology Design for UAV Flocking with Wind Gusts”, 2010 AIAA Guidance, Navigation and Control Conference, Portland, Oregon, August 2011.
C6. R. Dai, Unsik Lee and M. Mesbahi, “Distributed Orbit Determination via Estimation Consensus”, 2011 AAS/AIAA Flight Mechanics Conference, New Orleans, February 2011.
C5. R. Dai “B-Splines Based Optimal Control Solution,” 2010 AIAA Guidance, Navigation and Control Conference, Toronto, Canada, August 2010.
C4. H. Liu and R. Dai, “Statistical Orbit Determination by Global Evolutionary Optimization and Batch Filter,” 2010 AIAA Guidance, Navigation and Control Conference, Toronto, Canada, August 2010.
C3. R. Dai and J. E. Cochran, “Path Planning for Multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles by Parameterized Cornu-Spirals,” Proceedings of the 2009 American Control Conference, St. Louis, Missouri, June 2009.
C2. R. Dai, “Three-Dimensional Minimum-Time Interception Trajectory Planning Using Nonlinear Programming and Collocation,” AIAA-2007-6787, Proceeding of AIAA Guidance, Navigation and Control Conference and Exhibit, Hilton Head, South Carolina, Aug 2007. (Finalist of Best Graduate Student Paper)
C1. R. Dai and J. E. Cochran, “Three-Dimensional Minimum-Time-to-Climb Trajectories in Constrained Airspace,” AIAA-2007-1055, 45th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, Reno, Nevada, Jan 2007.

Presentation and Poster

P3. Ran Dai and Mehran Mesbahi, "Load Management Optimization for Multi-Source Power System", Fifth Boeing Commercial Airplanes Fuel Cell Conference, Seattle, July 2010.
P2. R. Dai, “Low-Thrust Interplanetary Trajectory Optimization Using Wavelet Series,” 6th AIAA Southern California Aerospace Systems and Technology Conference, Santa Ana, California, May 2009.
P1. Ran Dai, Ryan Sherrill and Mana Vautier, “Explorations in Astrodynamics – Past, Present and Beyond,” First Prize in Graduate Student Poster Competition of the American Astronautical Society National Conference, Houston, Texas, Nov 2007.