Davor Hrovat, an adjunct distinguished professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at UC San Diego, has been honored with the 2023 Rufus Oldenburger Medal by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). This award, established in 1968, recognizes lifetime achievements and significant contributions in the field of automatic control, spanning education, research, development, innovation, and service to the profession.
Established in honor of Rufus Oldenburger, a luminary in the field renowned for his exceptional contributions and service to the society, the Rufus Oldenburger Medal is a symbol of the highest distinction, with past recipients including profoundly influential figures in the field of automatic control.
Hrovat's recognition is particularly noteworthy, as he joins a select group of industry recipients over the past 55 years. From 1981 to 2015, Hrovat worked at the Ford Motor Company where he conducted and led R&D efforts on various aspects of chassis, power train, and overall vehicle control. In 2006, he was appointed the inaugural Henry Ford Technical Fellow in the area of Controls, which is the highest technical recognition in the company.
His nomination for the Rufus Oldenburger Medal highlights his exceptional contributions and technical leadership. Hrovat's pioneering work in applying the principles of modeling and control systems to automotive and aerospace engineering has led to marked improvements in the safety and performance of countless vehicles and commercial aircraft worldwide.