Bruce K. Walker
Dr. Bruce K. Walker is an Associate Professor in the Dept. of
Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at the University
of Cincinnati, where he has been affiliated since 1987. Prior to joining
U.C., he held academic positions at Case Western Reserve University
(Dept. of Systems Engineering, 1980-81) and at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (Dept. of Aero. and Astro., 1982-86).
Dr. Walker earned his graduate degrees (S.M. in 1977 and Sc.D. in 1980)
from M.I.T. in Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a B.S.A.A.E. degree
(with Distinction) from Purdue University in 1974.
His research interests are primarily in the areas of
fault detection, fault-tolerant control system development and
evaluation, parameter estimation, complex system simulation
development, and adaptive control. ("Fault-tolerant control"
means control systems that continue to operate, perhaps with
degraded performance, after some of their components have suffered
faults.) His has examined problems in jet engine simulation and
control, automotive engine control and diagnostics, liquid rocket engine
monitoring and control, aircraft modeling and flight control, spacecraft
attitude control systems, flexible manufacturing system monitoring and
maintenance, and automated drug delivery system design.
Recently, his research work has been supported by General Motors,
by General Electric Aircraft Engines, by NASA Langley Research Center,
by NASA Lewis Research Center, and by the Ohio Aerospace Institute.
During his recent sabbatical leave (1996-97), he consulted to the
General Motors Corp. on various aspects of automotive engine control and
engine diagnostics. He also spent the summer of 1997 in the UK as the
Dora Jones Visiting Scholar at the Dept. of Electronic Engineering at
the University of Hull in Kingston-upon-Hull, East Yorkshire, where he
studied issues related to fault-tolerant control.
From April of 1989 until June of 1993, Dr. Walker was the
Associate Director of the UC Space Engineering Research Center for
System Health Management Technology, which was one of only nine
University Space Engineering Research Centers to win NASA support.
Much of his research activity during that period was
related to the Center's activities, which focused on research and
training to support the development of automatic monitoring
systems for complex space systems such as the Space Shuttle Main
Engine and other space propulsion systems.
Dr. Walker is a primary or co-author of more than 20 archival journal
publications and book chapters and more than 30 conference papers.
He has advised more than 60 graduate theses, including 5 doctoral
theses since 1990 (with a 6th near completion).
He was the chairman of the committee that recently redesigned the
Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics undergraduate curricula
at U.C. These new curricula are now in place for the Classes of 2001
and beyond in Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics.
Dr. Walker is an Associate Fellow of AIAA, for which he has served
as a national technical committee chairman (Guidance, Navigation
and Control TC, 1986-89) and as a technical program chairman (1986
GN&C Conference). He is also a member of IEEE, ASEE, Sigma Xi,
and Tau Beta Pi and has served on the international program
committees for several conferences, including the IFAC
SAFEPROCESS'97, held recently in the UK. He is currently the
chairman of the fault-tolerant avionics subcommittee of IEEE's
Technical Working Group on Aerospace Control.
He is originally from northern Indiana (born September 16, 1952, in LaPorte,
raised in Michigan City, Elston HS Class of 1970). He is married to
Carol Kramberg-Walker, who teaches Technical Writing and Business Writing
at U.C., and they have one daughter.
Dr. Walker wastes lots of time watching college basketball and major
league baseball. Now that his less-than-spectacular basketball career is
over, he runs to stay fit, but it does not seem to help.