The Jer-Nan Juang Astrodynamics Symposium will take place June 24 - 26. For more than forty years, Professor Jer-Nan Juang, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), has been an outstanding contributor to astrodynamics in particular and dynamical system theory and applications broadly. He has made fundamental contributions to our understanding of the inverse problems (System Identification and Realization Theory) underlying input/output behavior, dynamics, estimation and control of poorly modeled systems; this body of work has had a pervasive impact on the field. His career trajectory has seen him make enormous contributions from positions in academia, government, and industry, while serving as a basic researcher, in mission and applications-oriented roles, as a leader in many different organizations, and always, as one who collaborates beautifully with many young and other not so young colleagues. His academic studies include undergraduate work at NCKU, graduate study at Tennessee Tech (MS) and Virginia Tech (PhD). His life trajectory to date has seen his state transitions move through JPL, Lockheed Martin, NASA Langley, and National Applied Research Laboratory (where he served as President, 2006-2008), prior to his present post at NCKU. His multi-decade fusion of various aspects of mechanics, control, applied mathematics, invention, design, and systems engineering is truly remarkable, unique and inspirational.
An infectious enthusiasm flows through his writing and research collaborations. Jer-Nan is a happy warrior who has mastered the fine art of working hard while literally radiating happiness and doing research for the sheer joy of it. He is always driving toward a higher degree of closure between theory, computation and physical realizations, while answering “what does it all really mean” questions that have made his career so impactful and important to us all. His work is documented in 2 seminal books, over 110 journal papers, 7 patents, and over 200 other publications. While perhaps best known for his Eigensystem Realization Algorithm (ERA), looking over his body of work one can see an indelible set of contributions to many other aspects of dynamical systems and control results. His original 1985 ERA paper is the second most cited paper in the history of the Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics. Because he remains very active in teaching and research, and especially because he has only recently entered the “prime of life” period between 65 and infinity, the time has come for us to gather, celebrate his career, and share recent results of mutual interest.
The symposium will begin with a reception on the evening of June 24, followed by two days of paper presentations and a banquet on the evening June 26. Professor Juang will give the keynote paper prior to the banquet.
To see the entire Symposium's program as well as links to all the presentations and all of Jer-Nan Juangs personal papers, click here.