Transportation
(Applicants: You can only choose this Focus Area if you have also chosen a Discipline)

The application of advanced electronic technology to transportation vehicle performance has opened up many exciting research areas at UC Berkeley, including "smart" vehicles and AHS (Automated Highway Systems), electronic suspensions, integrated chassis control systems, emission control, active noise control, thermal control systems, and in-cylinder combustion control, modeling monitoring and ramp-metering control of highway traffic. In addition, the development of cleaner alternative fuels has received increased attention as a critical research area.

The Berkeley campus is affiliated with the California Partners for Advanced Transit and Highways (PATH) program, housed at the UCB Richmond Field Station. PATH is not only a critical source of financial support, its program funds full time research staff and facilities on campus. Founded to develop advanced technology solutions to modern transportation problems, PATH coordinates research programs for many California campuses and industries.

Faculty members involved in Computer Mechanics Program are V. P. Carey, K. Hedrick, R. Horowitz, A. Packard, M. Tomizuka, B. Tongue, and Professor Emeriti A. Oppenheim and R. Sawyer.

Research Areas

• Advanced vehicle control systems (AVCS)
  
• Automated Highway Systems
  
• Advanced thermal control systems
  
• Modeling monitoring and ramp-metering control of highway traffic
  
• Electronic suspensions
  
• Traction control
  
• Four wheel drive
  
• Engine control
  
• Combustion control
  
• Engine emissions control
  
• Vehicle dynamics
  
• Active noise control
  
• Alternative fuels

Research Facilities

• Richmond Field Station PATH facilities
  
• Active Suspension Laboratory
  
• Active Noise Control Laboratory
  
• Control System Laboratory
  
• Hesse Hall Engine Laboratory
  
• Square Piston Engine Simulator for Optical Diagnostics