Giorgio Rizzoni
Dr. Rizzoni's research activities focus on modeling, control and diagnosis of automotive systems. These activities have involved a substantial amount of experimental research on engines and vehicles. Current activities include: vehicle and powertrain diagnostics; powertrain modeling and control; and the development of alternative propulsion systems including new engine concepts, electric, hybrid-electric, and fuel cell vehicles. He has supervised approximately 50 graduate student theses (including 15 Ph.D.) at OSU and UM. His research has been funded by, among others, General Motors, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Delphi , Visteon, Dana, ArvinMeritor, Fiat, Honda, Lamborghini, Magneti Marelli, Oshkosh Truck, Cummins, IBM, Motorola, Allied Signal, the National Science Foundation, NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Army TACOM, the National Renewable Eenrgy Laboratory, and DARPA. He is director of the US Department of Energy Graduate Automotive Technology Education (GATE) Center on Hybrid Drivetrains an Control Systems , and has contributed to the development of graduate course sequences entitled Powertrain Modeling and Control and Hybrid-Electric Vehicles offered to practicing engineers at General Motors through the General Motors Technical Education Program. Since his appointment as Director of CAR-IT, Dr. Rizzoni has been responsible for the growth of an industrial research consortium with sponsorship from 15 major automotive manufacturers, suppliers and government agencies, totaling over $3M in research funding. Dr. Rizzoni has been an advisor to the OSU Formula Lightning electric race car team (three times national champion) since 1993, to the Buckeye Bullet electric land speed record team (current holder of the U.S. land speed record for electric vehicles) since 1997, and to the OSU FutureCar and FutureTruck hybrid-electric vehicle teams since 1995.