Sunday, December 7, 2008 in Cancun Mexico
Note: An extended version of this biography can be found within the Book of Abstracts.
Bill Wolovich was born October 15, 1937 in Hartford, Connecticut and spent his early years in Bristol, Connecticut where he attended the local elementary and secondary schools. He excelled in physics and mathematics, and was offered a full scholarship after high school to attend General Motors Institute and subsequently work at a local GM plant in Bristol, which he declined, choosing instead to attend the University of Connecticut as an engineering student in the Fall of 1955. He graduated with honors from U-Conn in 1959 as a member of both Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu, engineering honor societies. He subsequently received his MSEE degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1961 and entered the US Air Force as a Second Lieutenant shortly after graduation.
Bill later completed his PhD dissertation under the guidance of Peter Falb, a Professor of Applied Mathematics at Brown University, where Bill received his degree in 1970. His PhD dissertation was subsequently embellished and published as his first book, Linear Multivariable Systems, Springer Verlag, 1974. Later in 1970, Bill was hired as an Assistant Professor of Engineering at Brown University, and Bill’s second child, a boy, was born in December. He and his wife Nancy had a girl in 1966 who would eventually graduate from Brown in 1988 and write an honor’s thesis under the direction of none other than Professor Peter Falb! Bill was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 1973 and to full Professor 4 years after that.
Bill officially retired from Brown University in 2001 but he continued his research investigations for the next 3 years. In 2005 he was asked to assist with the teaching of the Freshman engineering course at Brown, something he had done several times in his earlier career. He agreed to do so and has continued to teach this course for the past 4 years and has no plans to discontinue this Fall assignment. Bill currently spends his winters in central Florida, playing golf, tennis, softball and pickleball, but he often can be found reclining by the pool, enjoying the warm weather. He enjoys returning to Rhode Island in the Spring to his golf course condominium and visits with family and friends.
Former StudentsA list of Bill Wolovich's former students can be downloaded below:
Former Students
Professor Wolovich's current research interests are in the areas of algebraic shape, object recognition, computer graphics, complex dynamical systems, and motion control. He has authored or co-authored over 90 technical papers and has written three textbooks, two in automatic control systems, and one in robotics. He has made significant contributions to the fields of multivariable control theory, robotics and image understanding. Professor Wolovich received the NASA Apollo Achievement Award in 1969 for his service to the nation as a member of the team that advanced the nation's capabilities in aeronautics and space. He was elected to the grade of Fellow of the IEEE in 1984 for ""Contributions to the Algebraic Theory for Multivariable Control Systems;"" he is also a Fulbright Fellow. Professor Wolovich is a past Associate Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control and the IEEE Journal on Robotics and Automation. He also served as a Member of the Board of Governors of the IEEE Control Systems Society.
Interests
Object Modeling/Measurement: Professor Wolovich and his students have developed a new, primitive, conic/line decomposition
of algebraic curves which (say) outline the boundaries of free-form objects. This decomposition has been used to define canonical
curves for object identification and to obtain complete sets of geometric invariants for object identification and classification.
They also are using implicit polynomial models for rapid and accurate modeling and measurement of sculptured surfaces.
Geometric Design: Professor Wolovich and his students are developing new methods for blending two or more two-dimensional profile
curves in order to create three-dimensional sweep surfaces that are very easy to model, measure and modify. The blending and modification
algorithms they use employ their primitive conic/line decomposition of algebraic curves. Motion Modeling and Control: Professor Wolovich
and his students have created motion signature surfaces to analyze databases containing normal and abnormal motion and to develop
diagnostic procedures and treatment strategies for repetitive-stress and other ergonomic injuries. Other applications include new
procedures for improving the way humans and future robots interact to perform complex tasks.
Degrees
B.S, Electrical Engineering, University of Connecticut (1959), M.S., Electrical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (1961), Ph.D., Brown University (1970).
Source: http://www.engin.brown.edu/people/Faculty/facultypage.php?id=1106969974