Dr. Howard Chen

Assistant Professor

Contact

5000 Technology Drive NW
Olin B. King Technology Hall
Room N134
Huntsville, AL 35899
Campus Map

256.824.6256
howard.chen@uah.edu

Biography

Howard Chen is an Assistant Professor for the Industrial & Systems Engineering and Engineering Management (ISEEM) department at UAH. Dr. Chen’s research interests broadly span the areas of Robotics, Navigation, Biomechanics, and Occupational Ergonomics, where he focuses on (i) the navigation of vehicles and pedestrians, (ii) the development of control systems for wearable robotics, and (iii) the development and application of wearable sensors for biomechanical motion analysis. Much of his work leverages multi-sensor data fusion, state estimation, machine learning, and miniature MEMS-based gyroscopes, accelerometers, and magnetometers. Prior to joining UAH, Dr. Chen was a Postdoctoral Fellow and Assistant Research Professor for the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Auburn University working primarily within the GPS & Vehicle Dynamics Lab (GAVLAB). Dr. Chen received his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering at The University of Iowa, where he was a NIOSH Fellow and a Graduate Research Assistant within the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health.

Curriculum Vitae


Education

  • Ph.D., Industrial Engineering, The University of Iowa, 2017
  • M.S., Industrial Engineering, The University of Iowa, 2012
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, The University of Iowa, 2010

Expertise

  • Occupational Ergonomics
  • Wearable Sensors
  • Robotics
  • Navigation
  • Human Factors/Ergonomics
  • Biomechanical Motion Analysis
  • Sensor Fusion/Optimal State Estimation
  • Machine Learning
  • Inertial Sensors

Recent Publications

  • Chen, H., Schall Jr, M. C., Fethke, N. B. (2023) Gyroscope Vector Magnitude: A proposed method for measuring angular velocities. Applied Ergonomics, (in-press)

  • Schall Jr, M. C., Chen, H., & Cavuoto, L. (2022). Wearable inertial sensors for objective kinematic assessments: a brief overview. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 19(9), 501-508.

  • Zhang, X., Schall Jr, M. C., Chen, H., Gallagher, S., Davis, G. A., & Sesek, R. (2022). Manufacturing worker perceptions of using wearable inertial sensors for multiple work shifts. Applied Ergonomics, 98, 103579.

  • Schall Jr, M. C., Zhang, X., Chen, H., Gallagher, S., & Fethke, N. B. (2021). Comparing upper arm and trunk kinematics between manufacturing workers performing predominantly cyclic and non-cyclic work tasks. Applied Ergonomics, 93, 103356.

  • Coker, J., Chen, H., Schall Jr, M. C., Gallagher, S., & Zabala, M. (2021). EMG and joint angle-based machine learning to predict future joint angles at the knee. Sensors, 21(11), 3622.