Biography

Ebubekir Pinar is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Sussex within the School of Engineering and Informatics, specializing in robotics and autonomous systems, optimisation, and distributed control algorithms. As a member of the SVeCLab research group, he is engaged in developing advanced frameworks and simulations for real-time robotic systems.

In 2023, he completed a Master’s degree with distinction in Robotics and Autonomous Systems at the University of Sussex. His MSc project focused on Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulation for planar robots. Concurrently, he worked as a researcher, contributing to the development of a real-time robot-in-the-loop simulator and tools for deploying centralized and distributed algorithms in robotic systems. Additionally, he created a library that integrates robot models and sensors to support simulation studies.

Prior to his doctoral studies, he earned a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bursa Uludağ University, Turkey, in 2018. During this time, he developed a strong interest in sustainable energy and vehicle technologies, leading to participation and leadership in several award-winning engineering projects, emphasizing innovation and sustainability.

Professionally, he has experience working as a Research and Development Engineer at BPlas between 2021 and 2022. This role focused on high-pressure hydrogen storage systems for automotive and aerospace applications, including the design of plastic components, finite element analysis (FEA) using Ansys, and the validation of high-pressure vessels. Before that, he interned at the Turkish Automobile Factory (Tofaş) in Bursa, contributing to electric vehicle battery cooling and thermal management systems and designing a prototype battery pack with an integrated thermal control system.

Key Achievements and Awards

Throughout his career, Ebubekir Pinar has achieved significant recognition in engineering and sustainable vehicle development. As part of the UMAKIT team, he participated in the Shell Eco-Marathon Europe, a prestigious competition centred on fuel efficiency and innovation in hydrogen-powered vehicles. Notably, in 2018, the team secured 1st place in the Hydrogen Category, a remarkable achievement in a globally competitive event. The Shell Eco-Marathon challenges students worldwide to design, build, and drive the most energy-efficient vehicles, with this victory serving as an important milestone in his career.

Some of his key awards include:

• 2014 Tubitak Alternative Energy Vehicle Races – 2nd Place Performance Award & Design Award

• 2016 Tubitak Efficiency Challenge – 2nd Place for Use of Domestic Materials

• 2017 Shell Eco-Marathon Europe (London) – 6th Place in Hydrogen Category

• 2018 Shell Eco-Marathon Europe (London) – 1st Place in Hydrogen Category

• 2018 Tubitak Efficiency Challenge Electric Vehicle – 3rd Place in Hydrogen Category, Technical Design Award

• 2018 Shell Eco-Marathon Turkey (Istanbul) – 1st Place in Hydrogen Category, Technical Innovation Award

Research Interests

• Optimisation

• Model Predictive Control

• Robotics and Autonomous Systems

• Electric and Hydrogen-Powered Vehicle Systems