Realizing the importance of research and development in automotive electronics technology, the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) agreed to establish collaboration for development of new technologies and prepare human resources in this field so that the research can be further developed for commercial purpose.
Dr. Pansak Siriruchatapong, NECTEC Director, and Prof. Said Irandoust, AIT President, on 24 April 2007 signed an agreement between the two parties at the Chalerm Prakiat Building, AIT. The signing was witnessed by Dr. Passakorn Prathombutr, Intelligent Transportation System Manager, NECTEC, and Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, School of Engineering and Technology Dean, AIT.
In his remarks at the Agreement signing, AIT President Irandoust said the event serves as a testimony to AIT’s and NECTEC’s strengthening relations. He was confident that this five-year long collaboration agreement will see the successful spin-off and launching of numerous research projects which will benefit both Thailand and the region. This is in line with AIT’s primary mission to develop high quality human resources in the region. “It is gratifying that AIT through this collaboration will be in a position to help contribute towards the human resources development of its host country Thailand in this much needed area. Under today’s agreement NECTEC staff will be pursuing their masters or doctoral degree studies at AIT, which I hope can also be extended to other fields into the future,” AIT President emphasized.
Under the agreement, NECTEC and AIT will jointly develop research in the field of automotive electronics technology. The agreement also covers to technology transfer, service, and human resource development.
In the five-year agreement, NECTEC will support and collaborate with AIT in research and development of automotive electronics, focusing on the design, development, and test of automotive devices. NECTEC will also support laboratory hardware and a prototype car.
In preparing human resources for this field, NECTEC will send at least 2 staffs annually to further their master’s or doctoral degree in Mechatronics field of study. NECTEC staffs are eligible for RTG fellowship. NECTEC will support for the remaining expenses which is not covered by the fellowship for the staffs until graduation.
NECTEC will support management of technologies resulting from this collaboration, including intellectual property, knowledge, and technology transfer to industries. NECTEC will also provide fund for research and development under this agreement within the amount of 10 million Baht.
AIT will support and cooperate with NECTEC in co-research and development, hardware, and human resources development, research data exchange, and technology transfer for real application.
Describing the plan and some research topics to be conducted under this collaboration agreement, Dr. Manukid Parnichkun, a faculty member of Mechatronics field of study, SET, said AIT has three research groups in automotive electronics technology as follows:
1. Driverless vehicle research group: Topics include development of an unmanned intelligent vehicle.
2. Driver assistant system research group: Topics include development of a low cost cruise control system, automatic parking system, lane keeping system, and obstacle avoidance system.
3. Advanced control research group: Topics include vehicle identification for advanced control, sensor fusion.
