Visiting scholar chooses to advance research a CAR

While working on his PhD in Computer Engineering at the University of Pisa in Italy, Francesco Merola became familiar with the the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) through publications he had read, written by CAR affiliated faculty. Upon reaching out to CAR Director Giorgio Rizzoni and Professor Qadeer Ahmed he realized that spending some time at CAR could really advance his research. “While talking to Professors Rizzoni and Ahmed, it became evident that CAR is a very advanced environment, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and able to offer unique research opportunities,” said Merola.

Merola has spent the past six months at CAR working in the CyberLab on a variety of projects. He is working on a dSPACE sensor and V2X simulation setup which is being used for safety and cybersecurity joint validation of highly connected and automated vehicles (HCAVs) as well as other projects such as improving energy efficiency of electric trucks, specifically as part of the SuperTruck 3 project. He is also workion on a project related to preventive maintenance techniques for ADS (Automated Driving System) Vehicle Safety.

Outside of his studies, Merola has enjoyed exploring Columbus by bike and playing sports at the RPAC including beach volleyball, soccer and tennis. He’s also gotten a taste of the city, trying out different restaurants and taken trips to other parts of the country, visiting Washington and Miami.

As his time at CAR comes to an end, Merola says he will look back on his time here fondly. “I really appreciated the multicultural and interdisciplinary environment that CAR can offer,” he said. “I have met a lot of very nice people from different countries and with different skill sets, and the opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas with them is what made my time here very enjoyable overall.”