This page is created to inform any interested participants regarding the seminars to be conducted for the EE690 Graduate Seminars course. The schedule and the content will be updated throughout the semester.
2025-2026 Fall Graduate Seminars
| Date | Time | Location | Speaker | Institution & Country | Topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 24 | 11:45 | D-231 | Burak Boyacıoğlu | METU Aerospace Engineering Dep., Türkiye |
Bio-inspired Observability Tools for Active Sensing and Sensor Selection |
| Oct 31 | 10:00 | D-231 | TÜBİTAK İLTAREN | TÜBİTAK İLTAREN, Türkiye | Cognitive Electronic Warfare (CEW) |
| Oct 31 | 12:40 | D-231 | Çağrı Gülümser | Yüksek İhtisas University, Türkiye | Artificial Intelligence in Clidbirth – Artificial Placenta |
| Nov 7 | 12:30 | D-231 | Kutlu Demir Kandemir | Aselsan, Türkiye | Academia–Industry Integration in Robotic Systems Engineering: Experience, Learning, and Transformation |
| Nov 14 | TBA | D-231 | Gökhan Demirel | Gazi University Chemistry Dep., Türkiye | TBA |
| Nov 21 | 11:45 | D-231 | Ayşe Çağıl Kandemir | TED University Mechanical Engineering Dep., Türkiye | TBA |
| Nov 28 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Dec 5 | 11:45 | D-231 | Cüneyd Öztürk | Aselsan, Türkiye | TBA |
| Dec 12 | TBA | TBA | Aykut Özgün ÖNOL | Toyota Research Institute, USA | TBA |
| Dec 19 | TBA | D-231 | İlker Şahin | TBA | TBA |
Title: Bio-inspired Observability Tools for Active Sensing and Sensor Selection
Abstract: Flying insects have an unexpectedly remarkable sensing capacity. For instance, Drosophila, the fruit fly, can track chemical plumes by estimating the ambient direction without directly measuring it. In this talk, I will introduce the observability tools we developed to better understand the active sensing decisions made by insects and the importance of sensor selections. Specifically, I will address how to determine system observability levels (i.e., estimator performance limits) in the presence of process and/or measurement noise, and for particular state variables, e.g., state of charge or state of health of a battery. I will conclude the talk with potential engineering applications.
Bio: Dr. Burak Boyacıoğlu earned his Ph.D. from the University of Washington's (UW) William E. Boeing Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 2022. He holds a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering, a minor in Mechatronics, and a Master's in System Dynamics and Control, all from Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ). His research interests include optimal sensor placement and active sensing strategies for highly sensed systems, with applications in biological flight and engineered flight, and space systems. Most recently, he was a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), and taught a grad-level course for professional students at UW and an undergrad course at İTÜ. He is currently teaching controls courses in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at METU as a visiting scholar.
Title: Cognitive Electronic Warfare (CEW)
Abstract: Electronic Warfare (EW) involves the use of the electromagnetic spectrum to gain a tactical advantage over opponents. It has two main components: Electronic Support (ES), which improves situational awareness by detecting, intercepting, identifying, and locating signals, and Electronic Attack (EA), which disrupts enemy radars through jamming and deception. Traditional ES methods, which rely on static emitter libraries and deterministic signal processing, along with classical EA techniques based on pre-programmed jamming strategies, were effective against earlier and predictable threats. However, modern operational environments present challenges such as the rapid emergence of adaptive radar systems, low-probability-of-intercept (LPI) waveforms, dense multi-emitter scenarios, which undermine the static nature of conventional EW approaches. This has led to the development of cognitive techniques that introduce adaptability and intelligence into electronic warfare. Cognitive Electronic Support Measures (CESM) utilize machine learning, adaptive signal processing, and real-time decision-making to identify emissions and dynamically adjust sensing strategies. Similarly, cognitive electronic attack (CEA) extends traditional EA by employing adaptive and autonomous jamming or deception techniques to deny detection and tracking by modern radars. This presentation introduces the fundamental concepts of electronic warfare and cognitive electronic warfare, highlighting the motivations for incorporating cognition into modern EW systems and radar technologies, with a particular emphasis on the applications of Cognitive Electronic Support Measures (CESM).
Title: Artificial Intelligence in Clidbirth – Artificial Placenta
Abstract: The presentation consists of three parts.
- AI-Assisted Birth Management: The presentation introduces an artificial intelligence project developed under the World Health Organization (WHO) and now implemented in African countries with limited access to healthcare and specialists. The system facilitates the monitoring and management of childbirth while minimizing delivery-related risks.
- Artificial Placenta: The “Artificial Placenta” initiative represents a potential breakthrough in preventing preterm births—the leading cause of neonatal deaths and permanent complications, responsible for about 65 percent of all cases worldwide. The project aims to significantly reduce pregnancy risks and improve neonatal health outcomes.
- Projects at Bilkent Cyberpark: Prof. Dr. Çağrı Gülümser will also highlight her team’s ongoing projects in Bilkent Cyberpark, focusing on health, development, and education from embryo to university. The session will conclude with opportunities for one-on-one discussions with participants interested in joining or contributing to these initiatives.
Bio: Prof. Dr. Çağrı Gülümser graduated from Ondokuz Mayıs University Faculty of Medicine in 2000 and completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Ankara Atatürk Education and Research Hospital. He received advanced training in Maternal and Fetal Medicine and Fetal Echocardiography at King’s College Hospital and in Reproductive Medicine at University College London. He received multiple international awards including the Best Scientific Study (ESGE 2008), Best Presentation (RCOG 2009), and Most Innovative Scientific Work (ESGE 2011). He served at Başkent and Health Sciences Universities before his appointment as Professor at Yüksek İhtisas University in 2021. Prof. Gülümser has contributed to numerous global projects with the World Health Organization, the Turkish Ministry of Health, the World Bank, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He has authored many papers in leading international journals (BJOG, BMC Pregnancy & Childbirth, Turk J Obstet Gynecol) and served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology. He is the co-founder of Gülümser Academy and the Gülümser R&D Center at Bilkent Cyberpark, and serves as Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Gülümser Foundation (est. 2024). His research focuses on women’s health, epidemiology, and AI-assisted perinatal medicine.
Title: Academia–Industry Integration in Robotic Systems Engineering: Experience, Learning, and Transformation
Abstract: TBA
Bio: TBA