Background

Matt obtained his BEng in Mathematical Engineering from Loughborough University in 1991 and subsequently his PhD (On the modelling requirements for the practical implementation of advanced vehicle suspension control) also from Loughborough, in 1995. After a brief spell as a Senior Research Engineer at European Gas Turbines in Leicester he returned to Loughborough in 1996 as Lecturer in Dynamics and Control. In 2006 became Senior Lecturer in Vehicle Dynamics and Control.

Matt was Admissions Tutor from 2001 and became Programme Director for the undergraduate Automotive Engineering courses in 2009. He subsequently served as Director of Studies for Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering between 2013 – 2016.

Qualifications

• BEng Mathematical Engineering, Loughborough University, 1991
• PhD Vehicle Suspension Control, Loughborough University, 1991
• CEng Institution of Mechanical Engineers

Research group

• Control and Reliability

Research Interests and Activities

• All aspects of modelling and control in vehicle ride and handling applications
• Offline and real-time system identification, specialising in simple model structures
• Real-time parameter and dynamic state estimation, with a particular interest in the application of extended Kalman filters
• Control implementation, particularly using linear and nonlinear Optimal methods
• Driver modelling for realistic response of unskilled drivers
• Linear electric actuators for vehicle ride control
• Vehicle driveline optimisation and control
• Motion cueing for real-time vehicle simulation on moving platform simulator

Current and recent grants and contracts (with others)

• Programme for simulation innovation, 2013,  EPSRC / JLR
• Linear electromagnetic actuation system for active vehicle suspension, 2006, EPSRC
• Real-time vehicle dynamics model for playstation, 2000, Clockwork Games
• Practical implementation of semi-active vehicle control, 1995, Ford Motor Company

Current teaching responsilbilities

• TTA014 Computing
• TTC066 Vehicle Dynamics and Control
• TTD017 Vehicle Handling
• TTP404 Vehicle Dynamics

Best, M.C. (2019) Real-time characterisation of driver steering behaviour. Vehicle System Dynamics, 57(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/00423114.2018.1447678

Huang, Z., Best, M., Knowles, J. (2019) An investigation of a high-speed ground manoeuvre under optimal control. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 233(12). https://doi.org/10.1177/0954410018821793

Bogdanski, K., Best, M.C. (2018) Kalman and particle filtering methods for full vehicle and tyre identification. Vehicle System Dynamics, 56(5). https://doi.org/10.1080/00423114.2017.1337914

Bogdanski, K., Best, M.C. (2017) A new structure for non-linear black-box system identification using the extended Kalman filter. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 231(14). https://doi.org/10.1177/0954407017692219

Best, M.C., Bogdanski, K. (2017) Extending the Kalman filter for structured identification of linear and nonlinear systems. International Journal of Modelling, Identification and Control, 27(2). https://doi.org/10.1504/IJMIC.2017.082952

Shah, J., Best, M., Benmimoun, A., Ayat, M.L. (2015) Autonomous rear-end collision avoidance using an electric power steering system. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 229(12). https://doi.org/10.1177/0954407014567517

Best, M.C. (2014) A new empirical 'exponential' tyre model. International Journal of Vehicle Design, 65(2-3). https://doi.org/10.1504/IJVD.2014.060778

 View central admin publications database

External collaborators

• Jaguar Land Rover
• University of Sheffield

External roles and appointments:

• General Chair of Advanced Vehicle Control (AVEC) conference, Loughborough, UK, August 2010
• Co-editor, International Journal of Vehicle Mechanics and Mobilty : Special issue on Advanced Vehicle Control, 2011.
• International Scientific committee, AVEC since 2006
• Invited papers in International Journals : Vehicle Autonomous Systems (2011, 2007), IMechE Journal of Multibody Dynamics, (2007), Vehicle System Dynamics (2017)
• Invited lectures : ACT (Advanced Control Technology club – special interest group in Automotive Control), March 2002
• Referee for Vehicle System Dynamics, ImechE Journals of Automobile Engineering and Multibody Dynamics, International Journal of Vehicle Design, ASME Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement and Control, International Journal of Vehicle Autonomous Systems
• Collaborative Research : Development of Linear Electric Actuators for vehicle ride control (EPSRC, Sheffield University and Jaguar / LandRover), Programme for Simulation Innovation (EPSRC / LandRover)

External examiner 

• PhD examinations, Leicester (2004), Coventry (2005), Stockholm (2007), Cambridge (2008, 2012), Leeds (2008), Cranfield (2008, 2010), Glasgow (2010), Bath (2014)
• MSc in Weapon & Vehicle Systems and MSc in Military Vehicles Technology, Cranfield University, 2010 – 2014
• Vehicle Engineering MEng, University of Pretoria, 2006
• Programme Validations, Lincoln (2014), Cranfield (2015)