Contact Professor Argyrios Zolotas
Areas of expertise
- Autonomous Systems
- Instrumentation, Sensors and Measurement Science
- Mechatronics & Advanced Controls
- Systems Engineering
- Vehicle Health Management
Background
Professor Zolotas is a key academic at Cranfield University's in the Centre for Assured and Connected Autonomy (Centre for Autonomous and Cyber-Physical Systems), internationally known for his expertise in Systems and Control. He has spent more than two decades researching and developing engineering applications for dynamically complex systems in the transportation and aerospace industries.
He has received multiple awards, including a visiting professorship with Grenoble INP (FR) in 2018, and secured substantial amounts in research funding (both as PI, Co-I). He is collaborating with various industrial and academic partners, as well as research organisations. He has designed and manages several taught courses, and led the successful MSc AVDC accreditation with RAeS as Course Director. Prof Zolotas is Senior Member IEEE ('11), he was awarded a Fellow(HEA) in 2013, and he was admitted as Fellow of the Institute of Measurement and Control (InstMC) in 2023. He is elected member on the InstMC Council since Jun. 2023. He has been admitted as Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) in 2024.
Professor Zolotas was recipient (together with co-authors) of IMECHE's Railway Division John Jarrett Davis Prize 2015 for the research paper 'Passive suspensions for ride quality improvement of two-axle railway vehicles'. Also is recipient (together with co-authors) of ICSAE 2016's Best Paper Award -in topic Control Systems Engineering- for paper title 'Improved PID control for Tilting Trains'.
Prof Zolotas, to date, has published 150+ publications (incl. peer-reviewed papers, book / book chapters, and industrial reports).
Professor Zolotas was Associate Editor on the IEEE Transactions Control Systems Technology (for 6-year term, 2012-2018), on IET Proceedings Control Theory and Applications (5-year term, 2013-2018), on IEEE CSS Letters (4-year term, 2017-2021). He has received the IET Proceedings IET Control Theory & Applications Certificate (05/2018) for exceptional contribution to IET Control Theory & Applications by serving as an Associate Editor. He is currently Associate Editor on the journals of JESTECH, and IMECHE Procs Part G. He is Member of the IEEE CSS Technical Committee on Smart Cities, and of the IEEE CSS Technical Committee on Robust and Complex Systems. He is Member of the SAE Automation of Aircraft Exterior Inspection standards committee G-38.
Prof Zolotas heads the Autonomous Systems Dynamics and Control research group and he is developing an innovative research program in Autonomous Systems and Robotics as a Service (ASRaaS) promoting net-zero standards.
Professor Zolotas promotes reducing the gender gap in STEM and increase the number of women engineers, already supervised to completion a number of female students (now in successful academic and professional careers themselves, further promoting gender balance in STEM).
Note: Prof Zolotas's background is strongly engineering-related, however he has a small Erdo's number = 4 (which is a more mathematics related distance linking authors to Paul Erdos). This distance metric is due to Professor Zolotas (4) having co-authored with Prof Malcolm C. Smith (3), who co-authored with Prof Ciprian Ilie Foias (2), who co-authored with Prof Jacques Dixmier (1), who coauthored with Paul Erdo's.
Research opportunities
There are available opportunities for postgraduate research studies in the following thematic areas:
- Autonomous systems and robotics as a service (UAV and UGV) [especially for applications in demanding off-road and rmeote environments]
- Robust and resilient system architecture (advanced control)
- Vehicle platforms with net zero standards (novel power distibution)
We are always keen to hear from interested candidates. Candidates with appropriate background in systems and control, Autonomy and AI, Robotics and embedded systems, Hybrid propulsion are recommended to contact me for a discussion (include a full up to date CV in your email).
Current activities
Professor Zolotas's expertise is on Systems and Control Engineering, including robust control and fault tolerant control, system architecture, AI-based and data-driven control. Since joining Cranfield University he has lead work in autonomous systems for ground, aerial and and rail service related concepts. He is also Course Director of the world renowned MSc in Autonomous Vehicle Dynamics and Control programme. Since January 2021 he has heading the Autonomous Systems Dynamics and Control research group within the Centre for Autonomous and CyberPhysical Systems, where he is developing an innovative research program in Autonomous Systems and Robotics as a Service (ASRaaS) promoting net-zero standards.
To date, Argyrios has graduated several PhD students and advised several Research fellows on a variety of funded research projects. In 2018 he was hosted by GIPSA lab, Grenoble INP, on a short-term esteemed visiting Professorship award.
Prof Zolotas presented keynote speeches:
- Keynote speech (invited), Title: "Systems and Control in the era towards Autonomy", The 3rd International Conference on Control, Instrumentation and Mechatronics Engineer (CIM 2022), Malaysia, 2022.
- Keynote speech (invited), Title: "Systems and Control in the era towards Autonomy, experiences and what the future may hold.", 15th International Conference Mechatronic Systems and Materials, Bialystok, Poland, 2020.
and was invited speaker:
-- Invited talk on "Hangar of the Future: Using UAVs & Advanced Digital Technologies", at the RSSB dedicated Workshop on 'The Future of Train Maintenance', Oct 2021.
Clients
- BAE Systems PLC
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
- Rheinmetall AG
- Airbus SE
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Çinar H, Ignatyev D & Zolotas A. (2025). A comprehensive review and future challenges of energy-aware path planning for small unmanned aerial vehicles with hydrogen-powered hybrid propulsion. The Aeronautical Journal, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print)
- Elshakhs YS, Deliparaschos KM, Charalambous T, Oliva G & Zolotas A. (2024). A comprehensive survey on Delaunay Triangulation: applications, algorithms, and implementations over CPUs, GPUs, and FPGAs. IEEE Access, 12
- Cao D, Zolotas A, Wang M, Pirani M & Li W. (2024). Preface for feature topic on human driver behaviours for intelligent vehicles. Automotive Innovation, 7(1)
- Torbali ME, Zolotas A, Avdelidis NP, Alhammad M, Ibarra-Castanedo C, .... (2024). A complementary fusion-based multimodal non-destructive testing and evaluation using phased-array ultrasonic and pulsed thermography on a composite structure. Materials, 17(14)
- Kartal MR, Ignatyev DI & Zolotas A. (2024). Sparse online Gaussian process adaptive control of unmanned aerial vehicle with slung payload. Drones, 8(11)
- Zhang J, Roumeliotis I, Zhang X & Zolotas A. (2023). Techno-economic-environmental evaluation of aircraft propulsion electrification: Surrogate-based multi-mission optimal design approach. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 175(April)
- Grehan J, Ignatyev D & Zolotas A. (2023). Fault detection in aircraft flight control actuators using support vector machines. Machines, 11(2)
- Zolotas A. (2023). Simple internal model-based robust control design for a non-minimum phase unmanned aerial vehicle. Machines, 11(4)
- Beyçimen S, Ignatyev D & Zolotas A. (2023). A comprehensive survey of unmanned ground vehicle terrain traversability for unstructured environments and sensor technology insights. Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal, 47(November)
- Hassan F, Zolotas A & Halikias G. (2023). New insights on robust control of tilting trains with combined uncertainty and performance constraints. Mathematics, 11(14)
- Torbali ME, Zolotas A & Avdelidis NP. (2023). A state-of-the-art review of non-destructive testing image fusion and critical insights on the inspection of aerospace composites towards sustainable maintenance repair operations. Applied Sciences, 13(4)
- Di Gialleonardo ED, Santelia M, Bruni S & Zolotas A. (2022). A simple active carbody roll scheme for hydraulically actuated railway vehicles using internal model control. ISA Transactions, 120(January)
- Zhang J, Roumeliotis I & Zolotas A. (2022). Model-based fully coupled propulsion-aerodynamics optimization for hybrid electric aircraft energy management strategy. Energy, 245(April)
- Liao X, Bingham C, Zolotas A, Zhang Q & Smith T. (2022). Servo control of drive-trains incorporating magnetic couplings. IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, 58(3)
- Deane S, Avdelidis NP, Ibarra-Castanedo C, Williamson AA, Withers S, .... (2022). Development of a thermal excitation source used in an active thermographic UAV platform. Quantitative InfraRed Thermography Journal, 20(4)
- Hamid UZA, Hu C & Zolotas A. (2022). Feasible, robust and reliable automation and control for autonomous systems. Electronics, 11(14)
- Alhammad M, Avdelidis NP, Ibarra Castanedo C, Maldague X, Zolotas A, .... (2022). Multi-label classification algorithms for composite materials under infrared thermography testing. Quantitative InfraRed Thermography Journal, 21(1)
- Alhammad M, Avdelidis NP, Ibarra-Castanedo C, Torbali ME, Genest M, .... (2022). Automated impact damage detection technique for composites based on thermographic image processing and machine learning classification. Sensors, 22(23)
- Bian T, Xing Y & Zolotas A. (2022). End-to-end one-shot path-planning algorithm for an autonomous vehicle based on a convolutional neural network considering traversability cost. Sensors, 22(24)
- Zhang J, Roumeliotis I & Zolotas A. (2022). Sustainable aviation electrification: a comprehensive review of electric propulsion system architectures, energy management, and control. Sustainability, 14(10)
- Strawa N, Ignatyev DI, Zolotas A & Tsourdos A. (2021). On-line learning and updating unmanned tracked vehicle dynamics. Electronics, 10(2)
- Pant S, Nooralishahi P, Avdelidis NP, Ibarra-Castanedo C, Genest M, .... (2021). Evaluation and selection of video stabilization techniques for UAV-based active infrared thermography application. Sensors, 21(5)
- Aloseel A, Al-Rubaye S, Zolotas A, He H & Shaw C. (2021). A novel approach for detecting cyberattacks in embedded systems based on anomalous patterns of resource utilization - Part I. IEEE Access, 9
- Aloseel A, Al-Rubaye S, Zolotas A & Shaw C. (2021). Attack-detection architectural framework based on anomalous patterns of system performance and resource utilization - Part II. IEEE Access, 9
- Zhang J, Roumeliotis I & Zolotas A. (2021). Nonlinear model predictive control-based optimal energy management for hybrid electric aircraft considering aerodynamics-propulsion coupling effects. IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification, 8(2)
- Makridis E, Deliparaschos KM, Kalyvianaki E, Zolotas A & Charalambous T. (2020). Robust dynamic CPU resource provisioning in virtualized servers. IEEE Transactions on Services Computing, 15(2)
- Deliparaschos KM, Michail K & Zolotas A. (2020). Facilitating autonomous systems with AI-based fault tolerance and computational resource economy. Electronics, 9(5)
- Hassan F, Zolotas A & Mohd Shah S. (2020). H∞ mixed sensitivity optimization for high speed tilting trains. Bulletin of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, 9(5)
- Albayati IM, Postnikov A, Pearson S, Bickerton R, Zolotas A, .... (2020). Power and energy analysis for a commercial retail refrigeration system responding to a static demand side response. International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems, 117
- Ahmadian E, Sodagar B, Mills G, Byrd H, Bingham CM, .... (2020). Sustainable cities: the relationships between urban built forms and density indicators. Cities, 95
- Zheng X, Zolotas A & Goodall R. (2019). Combined active suspension and structural damping control for suppression of flexible bodied railway vehicle vibration. Vehicle System Dynamics, 58(2)
- Postnikov A, Albayati IM, Pearson S, Bingham C, Bickerton R, .... (2019). Facilitating static firm frequency response with aggregated networks of commercial food refrigeration systems. Applied Energy, 251
- Zolotas AC & Goodall RM. (2018). New insights from fractional order skyhook damping control for railway vehicles. Vehicle System Dynamics, 56(11)
- Mystkowski A & Zolotas A. (2018). PLC-based Discrete Fractional-order Control Design for an Industrial-Oriented Water Tank Volume System with Input Delay. Fractional Calculus and Applied Analysis, 21(4)
- Saleh I, Postnikov A, Arsene C, Zolotas A, Bingham C, .... (2018). Impact of Demand Side Response on a Commercial Retail Refrigeration System. Energies, 11(2)
- Yang J, Cui H, Li S & Zolotas A. (2018). Optimized Active Disturbance Rejection Control for DC-DC Buck Converters With Uncertainties Using a Reduced-Order GPI Observer. IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I: Regular Papers, 65(2)
- Hassan F, Zolotas AC & Margetts RM. (2017). Optimised PID control for tilting trains. Systems Science & Control Engineering, 5(1)
- Hassan F & Zolotas A. (2017). Impact of Fractional Order Methods on Optimized Tilt Control for Rail Vehicles. Fractional Calculus and Applied Analysis, 20(3)
- Hassan F, Zolotas AC & Smith T. (2017). Optimized Ziegler-Nichols based PID Control Design for Tilt Suspensions. Journal of Engineering Science and Technology Review, 10(5)
- Deliparaschos KM, Michail K, Zolotas AC & Tzafestas SG. (2016). FPGA–Based Efficient Hardware/Software Co–Design for Industrial Systems with Consideration of Output Selection. Journal of Electrical Engineering, 67(3)
- Michail K, Deliparaschos KM, Tzafestas SG & Zolotas AC. (2016). AI-Based Actuator/Sensor Fault Detection With Low Computational Cost for Industrial Applications. IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology, 24(1)
- Jiang JZ, Matamoros-Sanchez AZ, Zolotas A, Goodall RM & Smith MC. (2015). Passive suspensions for ride quality improvement of two-axle railway vehicles. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, 229(3)
- Zolotas A. (2015). Disturbance Observer-Based Control: Methods and Applications [Bookshelf]. IEEE Control Systems, 35(3)
- Michail K, Zolotas AC & Goodall RM. (2014). Optimised sensor selection for control and fault tolerance of electromagnetic suspension systems: A robust loop shaping approach. ISA Transactions, 53(1)
- Michail K, Zolotas A & Goodall R. (2013). Fallback options for airgap sensor fault of an electromagnetic suspension system. Open Engineering, 3(2)
- Michail K, Zolotas AC, Goodall RM & Whidborne JF. (2012). Optimised configuration of sensors for fault tolerant control of an electro-magnetic suspension system. International Journal of Systems Science, 43(10)
- Zamzuri H, Zolotas A, Goodall R & Mazlan SA. (2012). Advances in tilt control design of high-speed railway vehicles: A study on fuzzy control methods. International Journal of Innovative Computing, Information and Control, 8(9)
- Yang J, Zolotas A, Chen W-H, Michail K & Li S. (2011). Robust control of nonlinear MAGLEV suspension system with mismatched uncertainties via DOBC approach. ISA Transactions, 50(3)
- Zhou R, Zolotas A & Goodall R. (2011). Integrated tilt with active lateral secondary suspension control for high speed railway vehicles. Mechatronics, 21(6)
- Zamzuri H, Zolotas A & Goodall R. (2010). Integral sliding mode control design for high speed tilting trains. International Journal of Simulation: Systems, Science and Technology, 11(5)
- Du X, Dixon R, Goodall RM & Zolotas AC. (2010). Modelling and control of a high redundancy actuator. Mechatronics, 20(1)
- Michail K, Zolotas A & Goodall R. (2009). 347118 EMS SYSTEMS : OPTIMISED SENSOR CONFIGURATIONS FOR CONTROL AND SENSOR FAULT TOLERANCE(MAGLEV,Technical Session). The Proceedings of International Symposium on Seed-up and Service Technology for Railway and Maglev Systems : STECH, 2009(0)
- Zhou R, Zolotas A & Goodall R. (2009). 354345 INTEGRATED TILT AND ACTIVE LATERAL SECONDARY SUSPENSION CONTROL(Bogie,Technical Session). The Proceedings of International Symposium on Seed-up and Service Technology for Railway and Maglev Systems : STECH, 2009(0)
- Steffen T, Zolotas A, Dixon R & Goodall R. (2009). Adaptive Control of a High Redundancy Actuator Using The Geometric Approach. IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 42(8)
- Steffen T, Michail K, Dixon R, Zolotas A & Goodall R. (2009). Optimal Passive Fault Tolerant Control of a High Redundancy Actuator. IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 42(8)
- Dixon R, Steffen T, Davies J, Goodall RM, Zolotas AC, .... (2009). HRA - Intrinsically fault tolerant actuation through high redundancy. IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 42(8)
- Davies J, Steffen T, Dixon R, Goodall RM, Zolotas AC, .... (2008). Modelling of High Redundancy Actuation Utilising Multiple Moving Coil Actuators. IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 41(2)
- Steffen T, Davies J, Dixon R, Goodall RM, Pearson J, .... (2008). Failure Modes and Probabilities of a High Redundancy Actuator. IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 41(2)
- Li Z, Zolotas AC, Jaimoukha IM & Grigoriadis KM. (2008). Output Selection with Fault Tolerance via Dynamic Controller Design. IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 41(2)
- Michail K, Zolotas AC & Goodall RM. (2008). Optimised sensor configurations for a Maglev suspension. IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 41(2)
- Zolotas AC, Goodall RM & Halikias GD. (2007). Recent results in tilt control design and assessment of high-speed railway vehicles. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, 221(2)
- Halikias GD, Zolotas AC & Nandakumar R. (2007). Design of optimal robust fixed-structure controllers using the quantitative feedback theory approach. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part I: Journal of Systems and Control Engineering, 221(4)
- Zolotas AC, Chaudhuri B, Jaimoukha IM & Korba P. (2007). A Study on LQG/LTR Control for Damping Inter-Area Oscillations in Power Systems. IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology, 15(1)
- Zheng X, Zolotas AC & Wang H. (2006). Mathematica implementation of output-feedback pole assignment for uncertain systems via symbolic algebra. International Journal of Control, 79(11)
- Zolotas AC, Pearson JT & Goodall RM. (2006). Modelling Requirements for the Design of Active Stability Control Strategies for a High Speed Bogie. Multibody System Dynamics, 15(1)
- Pal BC, Chaudhuri B, Zolotas AC & Jaimoukha IM. (2004). Simultaneous stabilisation approach for power system damping control design through TCPAR employing global signals. IEE Proceedings - Generation, Transmission and Distribution, 151(1)
- Chaudhuri B, Pal BC, Zolotas AC, Jaimoukha IM & Green TC. (2003). Mixed-sensitivity approach to H//sub∞/ control of power system oscillations employing multiple facts devices. IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 18(3)
- Zolotas AC & Halikias GD. (1999). Optimal design of PID controllers using the QFT method. IEE Proceedings - Control Theory and Applications, 146(6)
