Akshay Rajhans

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Contact

Akshay Rajhans, Ph.D.
Lead Research Scientist and Head of the Advanced Research & Technology Office
MathWorks
arajhans (at) alumni (dot) cmu (dot) edu

Biographical Sketch

Akshay Rajhans is the Lead Research Scientist at MathWorks where he heads the MathWorks Advanced Research & Technology Office. His team's responsibility includes research and technology innovation programs at MathWorks, including MathWorks Research Summits, MathWorks-funded research collaborations, MATLAB and Simuilink Challenge Projects program, patent program, and more. He and his team members represent MathWorks in the research community in various capacities.

Dr. Rajhans has a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. His background centers around Technical Computing and Model-Based Design, often in the application context of intelligent AI-enabled cyber-physical systems.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Rajhans worked on development and application engineering of electronic control systems for diesel-engine applications at Cummins. As a research intern at Bosch, he co-invented a model-based approach to non-intrusive load monitoring.

Thought Leadership

Invited Expert for Government Agencies

Funding Review Panelist, National Science Foundation (NSF), Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) Directorate, 2023.
User Advisory Committee Member, Dutch Research Council (NWO), Veni grant in Applied and Engineering Sciences. Principal Investigator: Prof. Sofie Haessaert. 2021–.
Invited Panelist, NSF Formal Methods in the Field (FMiTF) Principal Investigators’ Meeting, October 2022.
Invited Participant, NIST/NSF/DoD Workshop on Simulation and Machine Learning in Robotics, 2018.
Invited Speaker, NSF Visioning Workshop on International Networks for Advancing Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) Research, Development, and Education Worldwide, part of CPS Week 2018, Porto, Portugal. April 2018.
Invited Panelist, NIST CPS Framework Open Source Workshop, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD, September 2017.
Invited Participant, Exploring the Dimensions of Trustworthiness: Challenges and Opportunities Workshop, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD, August, 2016.

Industry Advisory Boards and Committees

Industry Advisory Board, MIT’s Climate & Sustainability Consortium, 2021–2023
Industry Challenge Technical Program Committee, Real-Time Systems Symposium (RTSS) 2022
Industry Advisory Committee on Autonomous Vehicles Curriculum, Robotics Engineering Program (now a Department) at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2017–18
Industry Vice Chair, IFAC Conference on Analysis and Design of Hybrid Systems (ADHS), 2018
Industry Advisory Board, International Symposium on Circuits and Systems (ISCAS), 2018
Global Professional Advisory Community, Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), 2017

Editorial Work

Editorial Board Member, Research Directions: Cyber-Physical Systems, Cambridge University Press, 2024-
Associate Editor, Technology Conferences Editorial Board, IEEE Control System Society, 2020–2022.
Editorial Advisory Board Member, “Resilience in Cyber-Physical Systems: From Risk Modelling to Threat Counteraction,” F. Flammini (Ed.), Springer.

Conference Program Committee Leadership

General Chair: MathWorks Research Summit, 2023–
Program (Co-)Chair:
- International Conference on Assured Autonomy 2024
- MathWorks Research Summit, Boston edition: 2017–2019, Tokyo edition: 2016–2019
- Fourth International Workshop on Monitoring and Testing of CPS 2019
- Spring Simulation Conference 2020 and 2019: CPS Track
- Winter Simulation Conference 2017: CPS Track
Artifact Evaluation Chair: Formal Modeling and Analysis of Timed Systems 2022
Awards Chair: Hybrid Systems: Computation and Control 2018
Demo and Poster Chair: Hybrid Systems: Computation and Control 2017
PC Member (present or past):
- Cyber-Physical Systems, etc.: • International Conference on Cyber-Physical Systems • Multi-Paradigm Modeling for Cyber-Physical Systems • Hybrid Systems: Computation and Control • International Conference on Informatics in Control, Automation and Robotics • International Workshop on Formal Co-Simulation of Cyber-Physical Systems • Conference on Analysis and Design of Hybrid Systems
- Modeling and Simulation: • Annual Modeling and Simulation Conference • Winter Simulation Conference • Summer Simulation Conference • Spring Simulation Conference
- Formal Verification: • Formal Methods (FM) • Numerical Software Verification Workshop

Talks and Panels

Keynote Talks

[K3] "A study of cyber-physical system design activity to consider opportunity for AI assistance", 25th International Conference on Model Driven Engineering Languages and Systems (MODELS), Montreal, Canada, October 26, 2022.
[K2] "Challenges and opportunities in design and operation of intelligent cyber-physical systems", 19th International Runtime Verification Conference, Part of 3rd World Congress on Formal Methods, Porto, Portugal, October 10, 2019.
[K1] "Multi-Paradigm Modeling for Design and Operation of Intelligent Cyber-Physical Systems", International Workshop on Multi-Paradigm Modeling for Cyber-Physical Systems (MPM4CPS), co-located with the MODELS Conference, Munich, Germany, September 15, 2019.

Invited Talks

[T19] "Academic research to industry practice: success stories and open challenges in model-based approaches", MODELS Conference Industry Day, Montréal, Canada. October 2022.
[T18] "Formal Methods for Real-World Cyber-Physical Systems: A Model-Based Design Perspective", Invited Guest Lecture, Brown University, Providence, RI. May 2022.
[T17] "Engineering Learning-Enabled Cyber-Physical Systems: Challenges and Opportunities", Workshop on Machine Learning in Control (LEAC), part of Cyber-Physical Systems and Internet of Things (CPS-IoT) Week, remotely in Nashville, TN. May 2021.
[T16] "Formal Methods for Real-World Cyber-Physical Systems: A personal perspective", Invited Guest Lecture, Brown University, remotely in Providence, RI. March 2021.
[T15] "“Cyber-Physical Systems", Independent Activities Period (IAP), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, remotely in Cambridge, MA. January 2021.
[T14] "A Model-Based Design Perspective on Challenges and Opportunities in Automated Software Certification", 20th Software Certification Consortium (SCC) Steering Committe Meeting, Annapolis, MD, USA. May 2019.
[T13] "Specification Formalisms for Cyber-Physical Systems: A Tools Perspective", Dagstuhl Workshop on Specification Formalisms for Modern Cyber-Physical Systems (Seminar 19071), Dagstuhl, Germany. February 2019.
[T12] "Graphical Modeling of Hybrid Systems with Simulink and Stateflow", Workshop honoring the retirement of Prof. Bruce Krogh, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, May 2018.
[T11] "A Vision for Application-Focused International Collaboration Networks in Cyber-Physical Systems", an NSF Visioning Workshop on International Networks for Advancing CPS Research, Development, and Education Worldwide, part of CPS Week 2018, Porto, Portugal, April 2018.
[T10] "Heterogeneous Model-Based Design of Tomorrow's Cyber-Physical Systems", ECE Department Colloquia Series, Tufts University, Medford, MA, November 2017.
[T9] "Model-Based Design of Next Generation Cyber-Physical Systems", LIDS, IDSS, MITei, Lincoln Labs, NSF and IWR Workshop on Rethinking Modeling, Simulations and Control for the Changing Electric Energy Industry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Camridge, MA, September 2017.
[T8] "Why do we need holistic concern-driven engineering?", NIST CPS Framework Open Source Workshop, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD, September 2017.
[T7] "Challenges and Opportunities for Intelligent Transportation Systems", Robotica 2017, Newton, MA, June 2017.
[T6] "Model-Based Design of Connected Autonomous Vehicles", 2nd IEEE Summer School on Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA. May 2017.
[T5] "Model-Based Design Challenges for Cyber-Physical Systems", Expeditions in Computer Augmented Program Engineering (ExCAPE) Principal Investigators' (PI) Meeting, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. May 2017.
[T4] "Safety in Freely-Composed Cyber-Physical Systems—Challenges and Opportunities", with Pieter Mosterman, Exploring the Dimensions of Trustworthiness: Challenges and Opportunities Workshop, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD, USA. August, 2016.
[T3] "Recent Advancements in MathWorks Verification and Validation Tools and Techniques", CPS V&V I&F Workshop, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. May 2016.
[T2] "Verification of Systems Using Robust Temporal Logic Testing", Specification and Verification Center Seminar, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. August 2008.
[T1] "Robustness of Temporal Logic Specifications for Testing of Signals", Specification and Verification Center Seminar, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. August 2008.

Panels

[PNL9] "Formal Methods in the Field"", National Science Foundation (NSF) Panel part of the Formal Methods in the Field (FMitF) PI Meeting Days, November 2022.
[PNL8] "What disruptive technologies are expected to be most influential for the future industrial practice of model-based systems engineering?"", MODELS Conference Industry Day, October 2022.
[PNL7] "Challenges in Satisfying the Need and Promotion of Modeling & Simulation Workforce", Winter Simulation Conference, December 2021.
[PNL6] "Control for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation", IEEE CSS Workshop on Control for Societal Challenges, June 2021.
[PNL5] "Future Challenges for Autonomous & Intelligent Transportation", IEEE Situational Awareness For Emerging Network Enabled Transportation Systems (SAFENETS) Workshop, October 2019.
[PNL4] "Hybrid Simulation for Cyber Physical Systems – Where are we Going Regarding Complexity, Intelligence, and Adaptability of CPS Using Simulation", Symposium on M&S of Complex, Intelligent, Adaptive and Autonomous Systems (MSCIAAS) panel at Spring Simulation Multi-Conference (SpringSim), May 2018.
[PNL3] "What are the challenges posed to CPS theory by modern applications?", Joint HSCC-ICCPS Panel, part of CPS Week 2018.
[PNL2] "Why do we need holistic concern-driven engineering?", at the NIST CPS Framework Open Source Workshop, September 2017.
[PNL1] "Safe Control of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles", First Workshop on Safe Control of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (SCAV), affiliated with Cyber-Physical Systems Week (CPS Week) 2017, April 2017.

Publications

Visioning Work

[V8] Pramod Khargonekar, Tariq Samad, Saurabh Amin, Aranya Chakrabortty, Fabrizio Dabbene, Amritam Das, Masayuki Fujita, Mario Garcia-Sanz, Dennice Gayme, Marija Ilic, Iven Mareels, Kevin L. Moore, Lucy Y. Pao, Akshay Rajhans, Jakob Stoustrup, Juanid Zafar, Margret Bauer, "Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation, and Resilience: Challenges and opportunities for the Control Systems Community", IEEE Control Systems Magazine, Volume: 44, Issue: 3, Pages: 33–51, June 2024.
[V7] Andrew Alleyne, et al., "Control for Societal-scale Challenges: Road Map 2030", A. M. Annaswamy, K. H. Johansson, and G. J. Pappas, eds, IEEE Control Systems Society Publication, 2023. https://ieeecss.org/control-societal-scale-challenges-roadmap-2030.
[V6] H. Sarjoughian, E. Yellig, J. Nutaro, A. Rajhans, "Challenges in Satisfying the Need and Promotion of Modeling & Simulation Workforce", Winter Simulation Conference (WSC) 2021.
[V5] F. Allgöwer, J. Borges de Sousa, J. Kapinski, P. Mosterman, J. Oehlerking, P. Panciatici, M. Prandini, A. Rajhans, P. Tabuada, and P. Wenzelburger, "Position paper on the challenges posed by modern applications to cyber-physical systems theory", Nonlinear Analysis: Hybrid Systems, Volume 34, Pages 147-165, November 2019.
[V4] A. Donze and A. Rajhans, "Tools Perspective", J. V. Deshmukh, O. Maler, and D. Nickovic, eds., "Specification Formalisms for Modern Cyber-Physical Systems (Dagstuhl Seminar 19071)", Dagstuhl 2019.
[V3] A. Rajhans and P. J. Mosterman, "A Vision for Application-Focused International Collaboration Networks in CPS", NSF Visioning Workshop for International Collaborations for Advancing CPS Research, Development, and Education Worldwide, part of CPS Week 2018.
[V2] S. Anderson, B. Boots, A. Byravan, E. Drumwright, C. Duriez, D. Fox, G. Hager, J. Hodgins, A. Jain, A. Kapoor, D. Koditschek, N. Koenig, E. Lee, C. Li, K. Liu, F. Meier, D. Negrut, A. Rajhans, L. Righetti, A. Rodriguez, S. Schaal, J. Tan, Y. Tassa, E. Todorov, and J. Trinkle, "On the Use of Modeling and Simulation in Robotics", Workshop Report, NIST/NSF/DoD Workshop on Simulation and Machine Learning in Robotics, 2018.
[V1] A. Tolk, F. Barros, A. D’Ambrogio, A. Rajhans, P. J. Mosterman, S. S. Shetty, M. K. Traoré, H. Vangheluwe, and L. Yilmaz, "Hybrid Simulation for Cyber Physical Systems – A Panel on Where are we Going Regarding Complexity, Intelligence, and Adaptability of CPS Using Simulation", Spring Simulation Multi-Conference, 2018.

Technical Publications

[P28] Claudio Menghi, Eugene Balai, Darren Valovcin, Christoph Sticksel, Akshay Rajhans, "Completeness and Consistency of Tabular Requirements: an SMT-Based Verification Approach", under review.
[P27] Abenezer Taye, Roberto Valenti, Akshay Rajhans, Anastasia Mavrommati, Pieter Mosterman, and Peng Wei, "Safe and Scalable Real-Time Trajectory Planning Framework for Urban Air Mobility", AIAA Journal of Aerospace Information Systems, April 2024.
[P26] Federico Formica, Tony Fan, Akshay Rajhans, Vera Pantelic, Mark Lawford, Claudio Menghi, "Simulation-based Testing of Simulink Models with Test Sequence and Test Assessment Blocks", IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, Volume: 50, Issue: 2, February 2024.
[P25] Mattia Di Florio, Vijay Iyer, Akshay Rajhans, Stefano Buccelli, and Michela Chiappalone, "Model-based Online Implementation of Spike Detection Algorithms for Neuroengineering Applications", 44th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS'22).
[P24] A. Rajhans, A. Mavrommati, P.J. Mosterman, and R.G. Valenti, "Specification and Runtime Verification of Temporal Assessments in Simulink", 21st International Conference on Runtime Verification (RV) 2021.
[P23] A. Mavrommati, C. Osario, R.G. Valenti, A. Rajhans, and P.J. Mosterman, "An Application of Model Predictive Control to Reactive Motion Planning of Robot Manipulators", 17th IEEE International Conference on Automation Science and Engineering (CASE) 2021.
[P22] M. A. Rodriguez, X. Zhao, H. Song, R. Valenti, A. Rajhans, P. Mosterman, Y. Diaz-Mercado, and H. K. Fathy, "A Gradient-Based Approach for Coordinating Smart Vehicles and Traffic Lights at Intersections", IEEE Control Systems Letters, Volume: 5, Issue: 6, Dec. 2021.
[P21] M. A. Rodriguez, X. Zhao, H. Song, R. Valenti, A. Rajhans, P. Mosterman, Y. Diaz-Mercado, and H. K. Fathy, "A Gradient-Based Approach for Coordinating Smart Vehicles and Traffic Lights at Intersections", American Control Conference (ACC) 2021.
[P20] N. Visnevski, T. Hubscher-Younger, A. Rajhans, and B. Meng, "Automatic Synthesis of Information Flow Driven Execution Managers for Embedded Software Applications", AIAA/IEEE Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC) 2020. Best in Session Award.
[P19] P. J. Mosterman, A. Rajhans, A. Mavrommati, R. G. Valenti, "Simulation of Hybrid Dynamic Systems", John Baillieul, Tariq Samad, eds., Encyclopedia of Systems and Control, Springer, Living Edition. First online: August 2020.
[P18] Z. Tu, A. Dimas, M. N. Kurt, A. Mavrommati, P. J. Mosterman, A. Rajhans, and R. G. Valenti, "A Simulator for trading traffic privileges by selfish driving cars", Spring Simulation Conference, 2020.
[P17] S. Castro, P. J. Mosterman, A. H. Rajhans, and R. G. Valenti, "Challenges in the Operation and Design of Intelligent Cyber-Physical Systems", Book Chapter. *Complexity Challenges in Cyber Physical Systems: Using Modeling and Simulation (M&S) to Support Intelligence, Adaptation and Autonomy*, Saurabh Mittal and Andreas Tolk, Eds., Wiley, January 2020.
[P16] J.-F. Kempf, Khoo Y. P., and A. Rajhans, "Specification and Assessment of Temporal Requirements using Simulink Test", Fourth International Workshop on Monitoring and Testing of Cyber-Physical Systems (MT-CPS 2019, part of CPS-IoT Week 2019.
[P15] A. Rajhans and D. Lluch, "A Digital Twin Approach to Online Monitoring in Industrial Internet of Things Applications", Fourth International Workshop on Monitoring and Testing of Cyber-Physical Systems (MT-CPS 2019), part of CPS-IoT Week 2019.
[P14] A. Rajhans, S. Avadhanula, A. Chutinan, P. J. Mosterman, and F. Zhang, "Graphical Hybrid Automata with Simulink and Stateflow", 21st International Conference on Hybrid Systems: Computation and Control, 2018.
[P13] A. Rajhans, S. Avadhanula, A. Chutinan, P. J. Mosterman, and F. Zhang, "Graphical Modeling of Hybrid Dynamics with Simulink and Stateflow", 21st ACM International Conference on Hybrid Systems: Computation and Control, 2018. Best Repeatability Evaluation Award Finalist.
[P12] A. Rajhans, A. Bhave, I. Ruchkin, B. Krogh, D. Garlan, A. Platzer, and B. Schmerl, "Supporting Heterogeneity in Cyber-Physical System Architectures", IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control's Special Issue on Control of Cyber-Physical Systems, Vol. 59, Issue 12, pages 3178-3193.
[P11] M. Althoff, A. Rajhans, B. Krogh, S. Yaldiz, X. Li, and L. Pileggi, "Formal Verification of Phase-Locked Loops Using Reachability Analysis and Continuization", Communications of the ACM, Vol. 56, Issue 10, pages: 97-104. Research Highlight. Accompanying Technical Perspective by Prof. Rajeev Alur: https://cacm.acm.org/magazines/2013/10/168175-technical-perspective-can-we-verify-cyber-physical-systems.
[P10] Y. Deng, A. Rajhans, and A. A. Julius, "STRONG: A Trajectory-Based Verification Toolbox for Hybrid Systems", 10th International Conference on Quantitative Evaluation of SysTems (QEST), 2013.
[P9] A. Rajhans and B. H. Krogh, "Compositional Heterogeneous Abstraction", 16th ACM International Conference on Hybrid Systems: Computation and Control, 2013.
[P8] A. Rajhans and B. H. Krogh, "Heterogeneous Verification of Cyber-Physical Systems Using Behavior Relations", 15th ACM International Conference on Hybrid Systems: Computation and Control, 2012.
[RP7] A. Rajhans, A. Bhave, S. Loos, B. H. Krogh, A. Platzer, and D. Garlan, "Using Parameters in Architectural Views to Support Heterogeneous Design and Verification", 50th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, 2011.
[P6] M. Althoff, A. Rajhans, B. H. Krogh, S. Yaldiz, X. Li, and L. Pileggi, "Formal Verification of Phase-Locked Loops Using Reachability Analysis and Continuization", IEEE/ACM International Conference on Computer-Aided Design (ICCAD), 2011. William J. McCalla Best Paper Award.
[P5] M. Althoff, A. Rajhans, B. H. Krogh, S. Yaldiz, X. Li, and L. Pileggi, "Using Continuization in Rechability Analysis for the Verification of a Phase-Locked Loop", Frontiers in Analog Circuit (FAC) Synthesis and Verification, co-located with Computer-Aided Verification (CAV) 2011.
[P4] A. Bhave, D. Garlan, B. H. Krogh, S. Loos, A. Platzer, A. Rajhans, and B. Schmerl, "Multi-View Consistency in Architectures for Cyber-Physical Systems", Safe and Secure Systems & Software Symposium (S5) 2011.
[P3] A. Bhave, D. Garlan, B. Krogh, A. Rajhans, and B. Schmerl, "Augmenting Software Architectures with Physical Components", Embedded Real Time Software and Systems (ERTS^2), 2010.
[P2] A. Rajhans, S.-W. Cheng, B. Schmerl, D. Garlan, B. H. Krogh, C. Agbi, and A. Bhave, "An Architectural Approach to the Design and Analysis of Cyber-Physical Systems", Third International Workshop on Multi-Paradigm Modeling (MPM), 2009.
[P1] A. Donzé, B. H. Krogh, and A. Rajhans, "Parameter Synthesis for Hybrid Systems with an Application to Simulink Models", 12th IEEE/ACM International Conference on Hybrid Systems: Computation and Control, 2009.

Theses

[Th2] A. Rajhans, "Multi-Model Heterogeneous Verification of Cyber-Physical Systems", PhD Thesis, Carnegie Mellon University, 2013. Advisor: Bruce Krogh
[Th1] A. Rajhans, "Development of Robust Testing Toolbox for Hybrid Systems", MSE Thesis, University of Pennsylvania, 2007. Advisor: Prof. George Pappas

Patents

[PP1] Andrews, B., Benitez, D., Raghunathan, B., Rajhans, A., "Method for Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring using a Hybrid System State Estimation Approach".

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