Speaker: Seán McLoone
Title:AI Enabled Predictive Modelling: From Soft Sensing to Human
Time: 9:30 AM, October 14, 2025 (Tuesday)
Location:290 Arts and Science Building
Abstract:
This talk offers an overview of the speaker’s 30-year research in AI-enabled predictive modelling, set against the broader evolution of AI over 35 years—from 1990s shallow neural networks to the past decade’s deep learning. These AI advances have driven successful industrial applications like soft sensing, automated inspection, predictive maintenance, and fault diagnosis, while underpinning the shift from Industry 3.0 to 4.0 and growing central to Industry 5.0’s human-centric, sustainable manufacturing goals. The talk traces the speaker’s work: early use of shallow neural networks for soft sensing, recent deep neural network projects for predictive maintenance and fault diagnosis, and ongoing Queen’s University research using AI to anticipate human motion, aiming to pair this with advanced control for better human-robot collaboration.
Personal Introduction:
Professor Seán McLoone is Professor of Applied Computational Intelligence and Director of the Centre for Intelligent Autonomous Manufacturing Systems at Queen's University Belfast. With over 30 years of expertise, his research centers on computational intelligence and AI, with applications in advanced manufacturing, energy, and sustainability, particularly focusing on Industry 4.0/5.0 technologies such as collaborative robotics, condition monitoring, and process optimization. He has graduated over 30 PhD students and authored more than 270 peer-reviewed publications. A Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the IET, and Senior Member of the IEEE, Professor McLoone has held significant leadership roles including Chairman of the UK & Ireland IEEE Section (2006-2009) and Member of the Board of Directors for Irish Manufacturing Research (2014-2021).He currently serves on the Editorial Boards of Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Transactions of the Institute of Measurement and Control, and is a Vice-Chair of the IFAC Technical Committee on Computational Intelligence and Control. Demonstrating his standing in the field, he has recently been appointed to the Engineering sub-panel for the UK's Research Excellence Framework (REF2029).
[Editor:Wanqi Liu]