Photo of Dr Gianmario Rinaldi

Dr Gianmario Rinaldi

Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering (E&R)

Email:

Location: Hope Hall 1.22

Short Bio

I am a Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering (Education & Research) at the Department of Engineering in the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy. I am also the Faculty Advisor and the Academic Lead of the Formula Student Project. I have a strong passion and expertise in control of energy systems.

I received a BEng in Energy Engineering, a MSc in Electrical Engineering, and a PhD in Control Systems Engineering from the University of Pavia, Italy, in 2014, 2016, and 2019, respectively. I have been a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences at the University of Exeter (2019-2021). The research activity undertaken during my Postdoc was mainly focused on the design and experimental validation (in sea) of advanced information-driven optimal navigation and control strategies for underwater electric vehicles. Further details can be found at the UKRI-NERC funded project website.

Research Interests and Applications

My research interests include:

  • optimisation and optimal control;
  • model identification;
  • large-scale systems;
  • fault estimation, reconstruction and mitigation;
  • variable structure/sliding mode systems;
  • state observers and state estimation;
  • cybersecurity.

I apply my research interests in the following sectors:

  • zero-emission vehicles and powertrains;
  • energy networks;
  • power systems;
  • microgrids;
  • power converters;
  • autonomous vehicles;
  • clean energy systems;
  • robotics;
  • epidemiological models.

Teaching

  • Faculty Advisor and Academic Supervisor of the Formula Student Project  XRacing [2021-Present]
    • Discussion and encouragement for multi-disciplinary team working.
    • Support the development of technical analysis and reports.
    • Bring forth clean mobility and carbon efficient practices.
    • Promotion of engagement between the students, industries in the clean mobility sector, and engineering institutions.
    • Budget Holder and finance management of the project. 
  • ENG3023-Zero Emission Vehicles-Module Lead [2025-Present]
  • ENG1005-Module Lecturer [2023-Present]:
    • SolidWorks Module Lead.
    • Electrical Machines Principles.
    • Electronic Lab Academic Lead.
  • ECMM102: Group Project, Module Lead [2023], and Supervisor [2021-2023]
  • ECM3174: Engineering Year in Industry [2021-Present]
  • ECM3175: Individual Project [2021-Present]
  • ECMM164: MSc Dissertation in Mechanical Engineering [2021-Present]
  • MTH005: Science: Skills and Culture (individual project supervisor) [2023]
  • ENGM015-MEng Individual Investigative Project (individual project supervisor) [2023-Present]

Other Roles

Within my academic position, I also cover the following roles within the Department of Engineering:

  • Faculty Advisor and Academic Supervisor of the Formula Student-XRacing Project
  • Academic Conduct Officer (ACO) (together with Dr Halim Alwi)
  • Member of the Wellbeing Inclusion and Culture Committee (WICC).

Academic Collaborators

Staff affiliated to University of Exeter:

And internationally with:

  • Prof Antonella Ferrara, University of Pavia, Italy;
  • Prof Michele Cucuzzela, University of Pavia, Italy;
  • Dr Juan Machado Martinez, Univesity of Gronigen, The Netherlands;
  • Prof Jacquelien Scherpen, Univesity of Gronigen, The Netherlands;
  • Prof Yuri Shtessel, University of Alabama in Huntsville, USA.

Industries Collaborators

  • Lynch Motors Ltd, Honiton, UK;
  • Ecomar Propulsion Ltd, Fareham, UK.

Useful Links

If you are interested in my research activity, feel free to have al look at these webpages:

PhD Opportunities

Please contact me if you are interested in a PhD studentship aligned with my research interests.

Completed Research Projects

  • Innovate UK Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 2 (CMDC2), ZERO - Zero Emission Research and Offshore Service Vessel,  (Co-Investigator). 

  • Innovate UK Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 2 (CMDC2), Demonstrator for scalable 1MW+ Zero Emission battery-hydrogen hybrid propulsion system, (Co-Investigator).

  • EMPS Global Partnerships Development Funding Scheme with University of Pavia (Italy), (Principal Investigator).

  • Innovate UK Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 1 (CMDC1), Twin motor, zero emission powertrain for commercial workboats, (Co-Investigator).

  • Innovate UK Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), Phase 2: with Ecomar-Electric Outboards, (Co-Investigator).

  • UKRI-Natural Environment Research Council (NERC): Combining Autonomous Observations and Models for Predicting and Understanding Shelf Seas, (Postdoctoral Research Fellow).