Contact Dr Efstathios Siampis
Areas of expertise
- Autonomous Systems
- Computing, Simulation & Modelling
- Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
- Instrumentation, Sensors and Measurement Science
- Mechatronics & Advanced Controls
Background
Dr Siampis is a Senior Lecturer in Control and Optimisation in the Advanced Vehicle Engineering Centre (AVEC). His research and teaching focus on optimal control and estimation for the next-generation of Hybrid/Electric and Autonomous Vehicles. He has extensive experience in developing model-based control and estimation algorithms — from concept and simulation through to experimental validation on full-scale prototype platforms.
Before joining Cranfield University as a member of academic staff, Dr Siampis worked in industry as a Control Engineer at Delta Motorsport, where he led control and estimation development for high-performance electric vehicles featuring multiple Electric Machines and Brake-by-Wire systems. His industrial work contributed to multiple Innovate UK and APC-funded programmes with major UK partners and OEMs, bridging advanced control research with real-world vehicle demonstrators.
At Cranfield University, Dr Siampis contributes to both teaching and research activities in the areas of Advanced Control and Optimisation. He leads the MSc Automotive Mechatronics course and the modules Vehicle Electrification and Hybridisation and Path Planning and Decision Making. His research explores integrated control and optimisation approaches for over-actuated vehicles, including nonlinear and predictive control, control allocation under actuator constraints, active suspension and aero-control systems, and driver-in-the-loop simulation.
Dr Siampis has been involved in several collaborative R&D projects funded by the ATI, APC and Innovate UK, covering themes such as active suspension, hydrogen actuation systems, and electric powertrain optimisation. His work has been published in leading journals including IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology, Vehicle System Dynamics, and Sensors.
His overarching goal is to promote advanced control and optimisation methods into deployable solutions that enhance vehicle safety, performance, and energy efficiency in both human-driven and autonomous vehicles.
Research opportunities
- Control and Estimation, Optimisation: Model Predictive Control, Kalman Filtering, offline and online (real-time) optimisation
- System Modelling: vehicle and tyre modelling, Electric and Hybrid Electric powertrain, active suspension systems
- Applications: vehicle control/estimation, active suspension/aero control, lap-time optimisation, autonomous vehicle path planning and following control, adversarial and co-operative control, vehicle range/powertrain optimisation, electric/hybrid energy management systems
Current activities
Research Projects
- Project Dragonfly: Cryogenic Hydrogen Valves for Aerospace (Aerospace Technology Institute)
- Project Additive: Wheel Motor and Active Suspension (Advanced Propulsion Centre)
- CREATION: Independent 4-Corner Electric Actuation (Niche Vehicle Network)
- AIDCAV: Advanced Integrated Dynamics for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (Innovate UK)
Teaching responsibilities
2024 to date
- Automotive Mechatronics Course Director
2020 to date
- Vehicle Electrification and Hybridisation Module Leader
- Vehicle Design, Propulsion and Performance
- Mechatronics Modelling for Vehicle Systems
- Individual Research Project - Supervisor
2020-2022
- Automotive Mechatronics Group Design Project Module Leader
2023 to date
- Path Planning And Decision Making Module Leader
PhD student projects
- "Development of a Strategy to Generate a Formula 1 Car Aeromap from a Limited Number of Test Points"
- "A Cooperative Motion Control Framework for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles in an Urban Multi-Intersection Road Network"
- "A Non-Linear Optimal Strategy for Simultaneous Planning and Tracking of Autonomous Vehicles"
MSc student projects
I have supervised more than 50 MSc students for their Individual Research Project (IRP), many in collaboration with companies such as Aston Martin, Porsche, Koenigsegg, Continental, Dumarey and Dynisma. Students under my supervision have been the recipients of prizes for best IRP, such as the “Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers Prize” and the “Hodgetts Memorial Prize”. Selected projects:
- "Pavement irregularity detection based on YOLOv5"
- "‘Connected horizon’ energy management system for a hybrid HGV"
- "BEV power electronics bi-directional thermal management"
- "Tire wear estimation using machine learning methods"
- "Vehicle body control using road prediction and a novel active suspension system"
- "Powertrain optimisation through laptime simulation for a high performance vehicle"
- "Multi-actuated scaled car development and testing"
- "Reduced tyre modelling for vehicle dynamics control"
- "Simulation based testing and validation of ADAS level –3 functionality by considering KPIs like normal behaviour, safety and passenger comfort"
- "Comparison of dynamic vehicle models in the prediction of vehicle side slip angle using kalman filtering methods"
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Lin C, Siampis E & Velenis E. (2025). Path-tracking control at the limits of handling of a prototype over-actuated autonomous vehicle. Vehicle System Dynamics, 63(5)
- Rijns S, Teschner T-R, Blackburn K, Siampis E & Brighton J. (2025). Optimising vehicle performance with advanced active aerodynamic systems. Vehicle System Dynamics, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print)
- Lin C, Li B, Siampis E, Longo S & Velenis E. (2024). Predictive path-tracking control of an autonomous electric vehicle with various multi-actuation topologies. Sensors, 24(5)
- Jiménez Elbal A, Zarzuelo Conde A & Siampis E. (2024). Simultaneous optimisation of vehicle design and control for improving vehicle performance and energy efficiency using an open source minimum lap time simulation framework. World Electric Vehicle Journal, 15(8)
- Li B, Lin C, Ahmadi J, Siampis E, Longo S, .... (2023). An integrated path-tracking and control allocation method for autonomous racing electric vehicles. Vehicle System Dynamics, 62(6)
- Papaioannou G, Htike Z, Lin C, Siampis E, Longo S, .... (2022). Multi-criteria evaluation for sorting motion planner alternatives. Sensors, 22(14)
- Htike Z, Papaioannou G, Siampis E, Velenis E & Longo S. (2021). Fundamentals of motion planning for mitigating motion sickness in automated vehicles. IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, 71(3)
- Ruiz Diez D, Velenis E, Tavernini D, Smith EN, Siampis E, .... (2019). Front/Rear Axle Torque Vectoring Control for Electric Vehicles. Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement, and Control, 141(6)
- Siampis E, Velenis E, Gariuolo S & Longo S. (2018). A real-time nonlinear model predictive control strategy for stabilisation of an electric vehicle at the limits of handling. IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology, 26(6)
- Basrah MS, Siampis E, Velenis E, Cao D & Longo S. (2017). Wheel slip control with torque blending using linear and nonlinear model predictive control. Vehicle System Dynamics, 55(11)
- Siampis E, Velenis E & Longo S. (2015). Rear wheel torque vectoring model predictive control with velocity regulation for electric vehicles. Vehicle System Dynamics, 53(11)
Conference Papers
- Lin C, Papaioannou G, Siampis E & Velenis E. (2024). Path-tracking control strategy for enhanced comfort in all-wheel-steering autonomous vehicles
- Lin C, Siampis E & Velenis E. (2022). Real-time path-tracking MPC for an over-actuated autonomous electric vehicle
- Li B, Ahmadi J, Lin C, Siampis E, Longo S, .... (2021). Integrated Path-tracking and Control Allocation Controller for Autonomous Electric Vehicle under Limit Handling Condition
- Htike Z, Papaioannou G, Siampis E, Velenis E & Longo S. (2020). Minimisation of Motion Sickness in Autonomous Vehicles
- Ahmadi J, Velenis E, Vagha HE, Lin C, Li B, .... (2020). Multi Actuation Scheme for Path-Following Control of Autonomous Vehicles
- Htike Z, Papaioannou G, Siampis E, Velenis E & Longo S. (2020). Motion Sickness Minimisation in Autonomous Vehicles Using Optimal Control
- Li B, Siampis E, Lin C, Longo S & Velenis E. (2019). A Time-efficient Integrated Path-tracking and Control Allocation Method for Autonomous Electric Vehicle
- Zarkadis K, Velenis E, Siampis E & Longo S. (2018). Predictive torque vectoring control with active trail-braking
- Zarkadis K, Velenis E, Siampis E & Longo S. (2018). Predictive Torque Vectoring Control with Active Trail-Braking
- Basrah MS, Siampis E, Velenis E, Cao D & Longo S. (2016). Chapter 192: Integration of torque blending and slip control using nonlinear model predictive control
- Kampanakis A, Siampis E, Velenis E & Longo S. (2016). A torque vectoring optimal control strategy for combined vehicle dynamics performance enhancement and electric motor ageing minimisation*
- Siampis E, Velenis E & Longo S. (2016). Stability of towed wheels in cornering manoeuvre
- Siampis E, Velenis E & Longo S. (2015). Model Predictive torque vectoring control for electric vehicles near the limits of handling
- Siampis E, Velenis E & Longo S. (2015). Predictive rear wheel torque vectoring control with terminal understeer mitigation using nonlinear estimation
- Siampis E, Massaro M & Velenis E. (2013). Electric rear axle torque vectoring for combined yaw stability and velocity control near the limit of handling
- Siampis E, Velenis E & Longo S. The Dynamics of Vehicles on Roads and Tracks