Salimzhan Gafurov

I was the Director of the Robotics Department at Ozon, Russia's largest e-commerce platform. I led development of both software and hardware for autonomous robots and automatization solutions, managing everything from system design and QA process to DevOps practices and manufacturing workflows.

Main results achieved:

• Doubled the size of the team
• Led the development of autonomous driving trucks with a 20-ton capacity
• Developed Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVs) for indoor use, with capacities of 30 and 100 kg
• Designed Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) for indoor operations, with capacities of 100 and 1000 kg
• Created a new conveyor system for warehouse automatization, complete with a proprietary control and management system SCADAzone
• Developed ML-based 3D system for determing goods size and weight

I took a position of the Head of Artificial Intelligence and Robotic Systems Centre at NIIAS, Russian Railways Company

My primary focus was on research and development in the field of automatic train operation (ATO). We designed, developed and manufactured the advanced driver-assistance system for trains capable of detecting various objects at distances of up to 300 m, recognizing drivable paths and identifying possible collisions

I joined the Innopolis University, where I established the Autonomous Driving Laboratory. This involved assembling a team of researches and engineers, developing autonomous vehicles, and creating both software (ai and cv based perception and prediction, mapping, control, planning, localization, gurdian, etc.) and hardware (CAN-modules, localization unit, steering, power supply, etc.) components, and a simulator developing of autonomous driving technology.

I had the pleasure of collaborating with incredible individuals like Alexandr Klimchik, Alexander Hramov, and Igor Gaponov.

In June 2021, the laboratory was acquired by the Ozon, Russia's largest e-commerce company. My entire team joined Ozon, allowing us to scale up development and bring autonomous driving technology into real-world business applications.

More information about the laboratory and robots we made you can find here

I joined the laboratory of Intellegent Machines in the the Lappeenranta University of Technology, where I focused on the design, development and manufacturing of underwater robots, including both softwatre and hardware components.

During my time there, I earned my second Ph.D., which concentrated on invesitgation of vibroacoutics and dynamics of aircraft fluid power systems. My adviser was Heikki Handroos and I the pleasure of working with Jaroslaw Stryczek, Tatiana Minav, and many other talanted individuals.

My thesis title: “Theoretical and Experimental Analysis of Dynamic Loading of a Two-Stage Aircraft Engine Fuel Pump and Methods for Its Decreasing”. Full text is available here

After years of research and engineering in the field of dynamics and vibroacoutics of aircraft fluid power system, I decided to establish the Bionics Laboratory at Samara State Aerospace University. There, we focused on the research and development of underwater robotics for ecological monitoring and inspection, including surface robots (two-parts unpropelled robot), remotely operated underwater robots, underwater gliders, and static buoys.

I earned my first Ph.D. from State Aerospace University, initially focusing on developing methods for reducing acoustic noise in technical systems as well as thermoacoustic and pulse engines Later, I shifted my focus to creating methods and approaches for decreasing dynamic loads in aircraft fuel pumps.

My thesis title: "Developing of research methodology and facilities for decreasing dynamic loading of combined fuel pumps" (in Russian)

I earned my second specialist degree also from State Aerospace University, where I studied mathematical methods in economics

Diploma thesis was titled: "Manufacturing practices for small-scale avation engines"

I earned my first specialist degree at State Aerospace University, where I studied aircraft engines and power plants, their design, construction and manufacturing methods.

Diploma thesis was titled: "Technological model of aviation engines maquettes production in case of virtual manufacture" (in Russian)