Biography
Dr.
Ali
Nasr
is
a
highly
accomplished
engineer
and
researcher
with
a
diverse
and
impressive
background
in
the
field
of
Intelligent
Autonomous
Software
and
Real-Time
Embedded
Control
System
Engineer.
Driven
by
an
insatiable
curiosity
for
innovation
and
technology,
Dr.
Nasr
continues
to
make
significant
strides
in
the
engineering.
His
impressive
knowledge
and
expertise
have
not
only
contributed
to
cutting-edge
research
but
also
inspired
and
enriched
the
academic
experiences
of
future
engineers
and
researchers. His achievements,
expertise,
and
contributions
to
academia
and
industry
are
what
truly
matter
and
determine
his
success,
regardless
of
considerations
of
race,
gender,
or
sexual
orientation,
which
are
mainly
prioritized
in
academic
recruitment.
Dr.
Nasr
received
his
PhD
degree
from
the
Department
of
Systems
Design
Engineering,
with
a
specialization
in
biomechatronics
engineering,
at
the
University
of
Waterloo
and
the
Waterloo
Artificial
Intelligence
Institute.
His
PhD
research
focused
on
1)
Scalable
musculoskeletal
model
for
dynamic
simulations
of
body
movement,
2)
physics-based
computer
simulation
of
human-robot
interaction,
3)
biomechnaical
signal
processing
for
autonomous
control
of
human-robot,
4)
optimal
design
of
active-passive
shoulder
exoskeletons,
and
5)
real-time
assist-as-needed
hierarchical
control
of
wearable
robots
and
practical
implementation
of
human-in-the-loop.
Prior
to
this,
he
pursued
his
passion
for
mechatronics
engineering
by
earning
a
Master
of
Science
degree
from
K.N.
Toosi
University
of
Technology
in
Iran
in
2016.
His
academic
journey
began
with
a
Bachelor
of
Science
in
Mechanical
Engineering
from
Isfahan
University
of
Technology
in
2013.
As
a
Postdoctoral
Research
Associate,
Dr.
Nasr
was
involved
in
groundbreaking
projects
showcasing
his
abilities
in
designing
and
implementing
platform
software
for
advanced
application
features.
His
dedication
to
education
was
also
evident
through
his
role
as
a
Graduate
Teaching
Assistant,
where
he
made
significant
contributions
to
the
academic
community,
recognized
and
appreciated
by
both
students
and
faculty.
Throughout
his
academic
journey,
Dr.
Nasr
has
been
honored
with
several
prestigious
awards,
including
the
Best
Paper
Award
in
the
Area
of
Multibody
Dynamics
from
the
American
Society
of
Mechanical
Engineers
(ASME),
the
3rd
place
award
at
the
University
of
Waterloo
Artificial
Intelligent
GRADflix, 1st
Place
Award
at
the
Graduate
Student
Symposium
of
Systems
Design
Engineering,
and
the
best
paper
award
in
the
7th
International
Conference
of
Control,
Dynamic
Systems,
and
Robotics.
His
research
findings
have
been
published
in
reputable
journals
and
presented
at
esteemed
conferences
worldwide.
Dr.
Nasr
is
currently
serving
as
a
visiting
researcher
(volunteer),
where
he
continues
to
contribute
to
the
academic
community
in
various
capacities.
He
actively
follows
up
with
academic
journals
for
publication
reviews
related
to
his
PhD
thesis.
Moreover,
he
volunteers
his
time
to
assist
students
with
their
projects,
providing
guidance
and
support
to
enhance
their
learning
experience
and
foster
a
collaborative
academic
environment.
Dr.
Nasr's
commitment
to
knowledge
sharing
and
academic
excellence
remains
unwavering,
reflecting
his
dedication
to
advancing
research
and
education
in
his
field.
Publications with Uiversity of Waterloo Affiliation
Scientific
Journal
Papers
[J12]
Bell
S,
Nasr
A,
and
McPhee
J.
(2024)
“General
muscle
torque
generator
model
for
a
two
degree-of-freedom
shoulder
joint,”
ASME,
Journal
of
Biomechnacal
Engineering,
pp.1-8
[J11]
Nasr
A
and
McPhee
J. (2024)
“Scalable
musculoskeletal
model
for
dynamic
simulations
of
lower
body
movement,”
Taylor
&
Frances, Computer
Methods
in
Biomechanics
and
Biomedical
Engineering,
pp.1‑27
[J10]
Nasr
A,
Dickerson
CR,
and
McPhee
J.
(2023) “Experimental
study
of
fully‑passive,
fully‑active,
and
active‑passive
upper‑limb exoskeleton
efficiency:
An
assessment
of
lifting
tasks,”
MDPI,
Sensors,
24
(1)
p.63
[J9]
Nasr
A,
Bell
S,
Whittaker
RL,
Dickerson
CR,
McPhee
J.
(2023) “Robust
machine
learning
mapping
of
sEMG
signals
to
future
actuator commands
in
biomechatronic
devices,”
Springer,
Journal
of
Bionic
Engineering,
pp.1‑18
[J8]
Nasr
A,
Hunter
J,
Dickerson
CR,
and
McPhee
J.
(2023) “Evaluation
of
a
machine
learning‑driven
active‑passive
upper
limb
exoskeleton robot:
Experimental
human‑in‑the‑loop
study,”
Cambridge
University
Press,
Wearable
Technologies,
4
p.e13
[J7]
Nasr
A,
Hashemi
A,
and
McPhee
J.
(2023) “Scalable
musculoskeletal
model
for
dynamic
simulations
of
upper
body
movement,”
Taylor
& Frances,
Computer
Methods
in
Biomechanics
and
Biomedical
Engineering,
pp.1‑32
[J6]
Nasr
A,
Bell
S,
and
McPhee
J.
(2023) “Optimal
design
of
active‑passive
shoulder
exoskeletons:
A
computational
modeling
of human‑robot
interaction,”
Springer,
Multibody
System
Dynamics,
57
pp.73–106
[J5]
Febrer‑Nafria
M,
Nasr
A,
Ezati
M,
Brown
P,
Font‑Llagunes
JM,
McPhee
J.
(2022) “Predictive
multibody
dynamic
simulation
of
human neuromusculoskeletal
systems:
A
review,”
Springer,
Multibody
System
Dynamics,
pp.1‑41
[J4]
Nasr
A,
Hashemi
A,
and
McPhee
J.
(2022) “Model‑based
mid‑level
regulation
for
assist‑as‑needed
hierarchical
control
of
wearable robots:
A
preliminary
study
of
human‑robot
adaptation,”
MDPI,
Robotics,
11
(1)
p.20
[J3]
Nasr
A,
Ferguson
S,
and
McPhee
J.
(2022)
“Model‑based
design
and
optimization
of
passive
shoulder
exoskeletons,”
ASME,
Journal
of Computational
and
Nonlinear
Dynamics,
17
(5)
p.051004
[J2]
Nasr
A,
Inkol
KA,
Bell
S,
and
McPhee
J.
(2021) “InverseMuscleNET:
Alternative
machine
learning
solution
to
static
optimization
and inverse
muscle
model,”
Frontiers,
Computational
Neuroscience,
15
p.759489
[J1]
Nasr
A,
Bell
S,
He
J,
Whittaker
RL,
Jiang
N,
Dickerson
CR,
and
McPhee
J.
(2021) “MuscleNET:
Mapping
electromyography
to
kinematic and
dynamic
biomechanical
variables
by
machine
learning,”
IOP,
Journal
of
Neural
Engineering,
18
p.0460d3
Scientific
Conference
Abstracts
[C13]
Nasr
A
and
McPhee
J.
(2024)
“Inverse
Kinematic,
Dynamic,
and
Muscle
Simulation
from
Video
Files:
Toward
Markerless
3D
Human
Pose,
Torque,
and
Muscle
Estimation,”
In
Proceedings
of
the
7th
International
Conference
on
Multibody
System
Dynamics,
Madison, WI,
USA
[C12] Zhu
K,
Nasr
A,
Wong
A,
and
McPhee
J. (2024) “3D
human
pose
and
torque
estimation
from
monocular
video",
In
Proceedings
of
the
4th
Workshop
on
Physics
Based
Vision
meets
Deep
Learning
in
Conjunction
with
CVPR2024,
Seattle
WA,
USA
[C11]
Haraguchi
N,
Nasr
A,
Inkol
KA,
Hase
K,
and
McPhee
J.
(2023) “Human
and
passive
lower‑limb
exoskeleton
interaction
analysis: Computational
study
with
dynamics
simulation
using
nonlinear
model
predictive
control,”
In
Proceedings
of
the
Society
of Instrument
and
Control
Engineers
Annual
Conference,
Tsu,
Japan
[C10]
McPhee
J
and
Nasr
A.
(2023)
“Multibody
system
dynamics:
A
fundamental
tool
for
biomechatronic
System
design,”
In
Proceedings
of
the 11th
European
Community
on
Computational
Methods
in
Applied
Science
Thematic
Conference
on
Multibody
Dynamics
(ECCOMAS),
Lisbon, Portugal
[C9]
Nasr
A
and
McPhee
J.
(2023)
“Computational
evaluation
of
exoskeleton
controllers
with
a
scalable
biomechatronics
model,”
In Proceedings
of
8th
International
Symposium
on
Computer
Methods
in
Biomechanics
and
Biomedical
Engineering,
Paris,
France
[C8]
Nasr
A
and
McPhee
J.
(2022) “Multibody
constrained
dynamic
modelling
of
human‑exoskeleton:
Toward
optimal
design
and
control
of an
active‑passive
wearable
robot,”
In
Proceedings
of
the
6th
International
Conference
on
Multibody
System
Dynamics,
New
Dehli,
India
[C7]
Nasr
A
and
McPhee
J.
(2022) “Biarticular
MuscleNET:
A
machine
learning
model
of
biarticular
muscles,”
In
Proceedings
of
the
North
American
Congress
of
Biomechanics
(NACOB),
Ottawa,
Canada
[C6]
Nasr
A,
Ferguson
S,
and
McPhee
J.
(2021) “Model‑based
design
and
optimization
of
passive
shoulder
exoskeletons,”
In
Proceedings
ofthe
ASME
2021
International
Design
Engineering
Technical
Conferences
Computers
and
Information
in
Engineering
Conference, Virtual
[C5]
Nasr
A,
Laschowski
B,
and
McPhee
J.
(2021) “Myoelectric
control
of
robotic
leg
prostheses
and
exoskeletons:
A
review,”
In
Proceedings
of the
ASME
2021
International
Design
Engineering
Technical
Conferences
Computers
and
Information
in
Engineering
Conference, Virtual
[C4]
Nasr
A,
He
J,
Jiang
N,
and
McPhee
J.
(2021) “Optimum
filtering
feature
and
manipulation
steps
of
raw
sEMG
signal
processing
in application
of
muscle
learning‑mathematical
modeling,
”
In
Proceedings
of
the
45th
American
Society
of
Biomechanics
Annual Conference,
Virtual
[C3]
Nasr
A,
He
J,
Jiang
N,
and
McPhee
J.
(2020) “Activation
torque
estimation
of
muscles
by
forward
neural
networks
(Forward‑MuscleNET) for
sEMG‑based
control
of
assistive
robots,”
In
Proceedings
of
the
7th
International
Conference
of
Control,
Dynamic
Systems,
and Robotics,
Virtual,
p.146
[C2]
Nasr
A
and
McPhee
J.
(2020) “Control‑oriented
muscle
torque
(COMT)
model
for
EMG‑based
control
of
assistive
robots,”
In
Proceedings
of
the
7th
International
Conference
of
Control,
Dynamic
Systems,
and
Robotics,
Virtual,
p.144
[C1]
Nasr
A,
Arami
A,
and
McPhee
J.
(2019) “Optimal
cost
function
for
predicting
upper‑limb
movement
with
external
load,”
In
Proceedings
of
the
16th
annual
Ontario
Biomechanics
Conference
(OBC),
Nottawasaga,
Canada
Thesis
[1]
Nasr
A. (2022)
“Design,
Dynamics,
and
Control
of
Active-passive
Upper-limb
Exoskeleton
Robots,”
PhD
Thesis,
University
of
Waterloo,
Waterloo
ON
Canada
Under
Review
[J4]
Nasr
A,
Inkol
KA,
and
McPhee
J. (2024)
“Comparison
of
assist‑as‑needed
computed‑torque
and
model
predictive
control
of
robotic upper‑limb
exoskeletons:
An
experimental
and
computational
study
of
human‑robot
interaction,”
Cambridge
University
Press, Wearable
Technologies
[J3]
Nasr
A,
Zhu
K,
and
McPhee
J. (2024) “Synthetic
human
motion
data
to
support
3D
pose,
motion,
kinetic,
and
muscle
estimation,”
Springer,
Multibody
System
Dynamics
[J2]
Nasr
A,
Inkol
KA,
and
McPhee
J.
(2024) “Safety
in
wearable
robotic
exoskeletons: Design,
control,
and
testing
guidelines,”
ASME, Journal
of
Mechanisms
and
Robotics
[J1]
Nasr
A
and
McPhee
J.
(2024) “Harnessing
biomechanical
energy
in
upper‑limb
exoskeletons:
Efficient
energy
regeneration,” ASME, Journal
of
Mechanisms
and
Robotics
• Email:
a.nasr@uwaterloo.ca
•
Publication
List
(Google
Scholar)
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(Linkedin)