JAMSTEC > Research Institute for Value-Added-Information Generation (VAiG) > Center for Mathematical Science and Advanced Technology (MAT) > Member > Frank Fan

Center for Mathematical Science and Advanced Technology (MAT)

Members

Frank H. Fan

photo

Engineer
Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
Center for Mathematical Science and Advanced Technology

3173-25, Showa-machi, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama-city, Kanagawa, 236-0001, Japan
frankfan_at_jamstec.go.jp


Short CV

The seemingly infinite ocean has fascinated me since the formation of my earliest memories. The vastness of the ocean is still awe inspiring today as it was when I was a kid, but equally mind boggling is the amount of abuse the ocean has endured. I want to help develop technologies that will enable humankind to further explore the great depth of the ocean. Beyond exploring the oceans to satisfy our collective curiosity, it is important that we continue to quantify and study both the state of the ocean today, and the dynamics that drive the global climate. The mysteries hidden under the waves remain as alluring to me today as they were over 30 years ago. It is my belief that technology can be used to help us not only preserve, but also restore our environment. I want to develop autonomous underwater vehicles to enable the society to further understand and protect the oceans.

Employment

2014.4 - Engineer, JAMSTEC, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
2008.8 - 2012.9 Teaching/Research Assistant, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
1997.8 - 2006.8 Research Engineer, Callaway Golf Company, Carlsbad, CA, USA
1996.12 - 1997.8 Research Engineer, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA

Education

2006.8 - 2013.2 Ph.D. Aerospace Enginnering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
2005.9 - 2006.6 M.S. Mechanical Enginnering, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
1992.9 - 1996.12 B.S. Structural Enginnering, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA

Research Topics

Automatic Recharging System for Underwater Vehicles
The main goal is to enable autonomous underwater recharging for the next generation of AUVs. The underlying objectives are (1) To develop the methods to design path planner, trajectory generator, and motion controller for underwater vehicles; (2) To develop the technologies for AUVs to locate, navigate to, and dock with the underwater charging station.
カモメ
MR-X1

Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Development
Extending the autonomous capabilities of underwater vehicles will greatly benefit the scientific community. Improved tracking and station keeping capabilities of the vehicles will allow better data collection; improved efficiency and endurance of the vehicles will decrease the cost of the scientific expeditions. The challenging operating environment of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) presents many problems in controls, sensing, and communication, which are similar the chaotic environment encountered during disasters. Thus advancing the state of the art in AUV operation will also contribute to the development of more robust terrestrial and aerial autonomous vehicles.
左目用
JAMSTEC AUVs

Publications

Original Publications

  • “Gain-Scheduled Higher Harmonic Control for Full Flight Envelope Vibration Reduction”, Fan, F.H. and Hall, S.R., In Proceedings of the American Helicopter Society 70th Annual Forum, Montreal, Canada, May 2013.
  • “Improved Continuous-Time Higher Harmonic Control Using H-Infinity Methods”, Fan, F.H., Ph.D. Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013.
  • “An H-Infinity Technique for Improved Higher Harmonic Control”, Fan, F.H., Hall, S.R., In Proceedings of the American Helicopter Society 68th Annual Forum, Fort Worth, USA, May 2012.
  • “Determination of Coefficient of Restitution Based on Modal Data”, Fan, F.H., In Proceedings of the 21st International Modal Analysis Conference, Orlando, USA, February 2003.

Patents

  • High moment of inertia composite golf club head, Helmstetter, R.C., Reyes, H., Murphy, J.M. Cackett, M.T., Fan, F.H., U.S. Patent 6,607,452, August 2003.
  • Measurement of the coefficient of restitution of a golf club, Erickson, M.J., Fan, F.H., Ehlers, S.M., Kosmatka, J.B., U.S. Patent 6,527,648, March 2003.
  • Method for predicting a golfer's ball striking performance, Manwaring, S.R., Fan, F.H., Ligotti III, P., U.S. Patent 6,506,124, January 2003.
  • Golf club head that optimizes product of inertia, Cackett, M.T., Evans, D.C., Fan, F.H., Hocknell, A., Helmstetter, R.C., U.S. Patent 6,425,832, July 2002.