Personal statement

Tan Chee Pin is a Professor, and Head of the Robotics & Mechatronics Engineering degree program at Monash University Malaysia. He is an internationally renowned researcher in the area of state estimation and fault diagnosis, where he has developed model-based observer configurations and design methods to accurately estimate the unknown signals of a system at the minimum possible cost (e.g. less sensors, less accurate data/model). The estimates of these unknown signals could then be used for condition monitoring and prediction of future phenomena, which could result in cost savings, increased productivity, energy savings and prevention of breakdowns, just to name a few benefits. He has published many papers in the top journals such as IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernetics (Systems), Automatica, International Journal of Robust and Nonlinear Control, and Journal of the Franklin Institute. He has also successfully applied those methods to other areas such as lighting, soft robotics, traffic and energy management. He has attracted over RM2m in research funding from government agencies and industry, and has supervised 9 students to successful PhD completion, and is currently supervising another 13. For his achievements in research, he was the winner of the 2020 Pro-Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Research (Open Category), and he has been invited to deliver plenary and keynote talks at conferences in the Asia-Pacific region. He is also an Associate Editor of the Journal of the Franklin Institute, and the International Journal of Systems Science.

Prof. Tan teaches with a student-centric approach, and makes it easy for students to understand complicated subjects such as Control Theory. For these, he has won several awards internally within Monash University, and was also a finalist in the 2018 National Outstanding Educator’s Award.

Prof. Tan is a Professional Engineer with the Board of Engineers Malaysia, and Chartered Engineer with the Engineering Council UK.

Academic degrees

• Doctor of Philosophy in Control Systems, University of Leicester, 2002
• Degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Leicester, 1998

Professional affiliations

Member of National Professional Bodies

• Board of Engineers Malaysia, Professional Engineer

Member of International Professional Bodies

• Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), Chartered Engineer
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Senior Member

Research Interests

My primary research interest lies in observers, where I have developed model-based observer configurations and design methods to accurately estimate the unknown signals of a system at the minimum possible cost (e.g. less sensors, less accurate data/model). The estimates of these unknown signals could then be used for condition monitoring and prediction of future phenomena, which could result in cost savings, increased productivity, energy savings and prevention of breakdowns, just to name a few benefits.

The results of the research can be applied to a wide variety of dynamic systems (machinery, biological systems, and even man-made non-physical systems such as traffic control). Examples of applications are given as follows (but not limited to)

• prediction of traffic congestion
• reduction of down-times and optimization in industrial processes
• optimization of battery life

Research Projects

Title: Estimation of battery state of charge (soc) and state of health (soh) for optimal performance

Batteries are an integral component of systems such as electric vehicles and power-generation plants. Knowledge of their status (state of charge/health, SOC/SOH) could help optimize the operation of those systems. This project develops methods to accurately estimate the SOC/SOH at the minimal possible cost.

Title: Development of observer-based methods for state estimation in soft robots

Soft robots are new generation of robots, that due to their softness, are capable of many tasks impossible for conventional rigid robots. Traditionally, to obtain information of a system, one would just install sensors. However, for soft robots, the installation of sensors is not straightforward, as sensors could reduce the soft properties of the robot. Therefore, this project seeks to develop observer methods that can estimate the position (information) of the soft robot with the minimal possible sensors.

Education

Units taught

TRC2001 - Introduction to Systems Engineering

ECE4032 - Advanced Control

MEC4418 - Control Systems

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Local grants

• Highly Configurable Context-Aware Human-Centric Smart Lightning System, V. Kalavally, C.P. Tan, S. Haque, A. Schaefer, 2018-2021, Itramas Corporation Sdn Bhd
• Connected suspension prototype for commercial vehicle, V. Ragavan, M. Shanmugavel, C.P. Tan, 2017, APM Engineering & Research
• Investigation and publication of the latest available low-cost automation (LCA) technologies in the global textile/apparel/fashion retail industry, C.P. Tan, V. Ragavan, M.A.S. Kamal, A.A. Gopalai, 2017-2019, Malaysian Textile and Apparel Centre
• Research into current trends in low cost automation (LCA) technologies in the global textile industry and drafting a chapter on LCA for MATAC LSD handbook, C.P. Tan, V. Ragavan, M.A.S. Kamal, 2017, Malaysian Textile and Apparel Centre
• Development of observer schemes for soft robotic systems to achieve state estimation, and fault detection, C.P. Tan, S.G. Nurzaman, 2017-2020, Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (Ministry of Higher Education), RM46,200
• Quality of light – impact of visual and non-visual effects, C.P. Tan, V. Kalavally, 2016-2019, Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science and Technology, RM445,263

Current supervision

Joseph Chan Chang Lun

Development of robust observer schemes for descriptor systems

2015-present

Monash University Malaysia

Loo Junn Yong

Development of observer schemes for soft robotic systems

2018-present

Monash University Malaysia

Completed supervision

Chua Wen-Shyan

Development of observers for fault estimation in nonlinear systems

2014 - 2017

Monash University Malaysia

Jeremy Ooi Hor Teong

Development of observer schemes for descriptor systems

2014 - 2017

Monash University Malaysia

Ivan Chew Ken Yoong

A novel framework for a wireless smart lighting system

2012-2016

Monash University Malaysia

Ng Jiunn Yea

Development of common observer schemes using sliding mode observers for robust state estimation and fault detection

2011-2015

Monash University Malaysia

Kee Chew Yee

Advancements in functional state estimation using sliding mode observers

2010-2014

Monash University Malaysia

Lim Jen Nee Jones

Integrated automatic aircraft landing control system using nonlinear energy methods

2012-2015

Monash University Malaysia

Ng Kok Yew

Advancements in robust fault reconstruction using sliding mode observers

2006-2009

Monash University Malaysia

Local Award/Recognition/Exhibition/Stewardship

• National Outstanding Educators’ Award (Finalist) - Private Education Cooperation Malaysia, 2018