Optimizing Point Absorber Wave Energy Converters with Innovative Buoy Geometries

Dr. Ammar Ahmed received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Thermal Power Engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, Pakistan, in 2016 and 2019, respectively, and his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China, in 2023. Dr. Ammar has also worked in the School of Mechanical Engineering at Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China, as a post-doctoral fellow. He looks forward to working in the School of Marine Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China. Dr. Ammar focuses on the research of clean and sustainable marine renewable energy sources, vibrational energy harvesting, wind power generation, 3D printing, additively-manufactured nano-mechanical energy harvesting devices, diesel engines, and cleaner energy conversion and management technologies. His recent research interests include point absorber wave energy converters, majorly focusing on the design of innovative floating buoys for enhanced wave power extraction under a realistic ocean environment.

Dr. Ali Azam is a dedicated scholar with a strong academic background in mechanical engineering. He obtained his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Mechanical Design Engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology in Lahore, Pakistan, in 2016 and 2019, respectively. Later, he embarked on a Ph.D. journey with a focus on Mechanical Design and Theory at Southwest Jiaotong University in China in 2023. Recently, Dr. Azam has completed his postdoctoral fellowship at Southwest Jiaotong University, China. Currently, he is engaged in his postdoctoral research in the School of Marine Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China. Dr. Azam's research primarily includes mechanical design, energy harvesting, wind power generation, nano-mechanical energy harvesting devices, diesel engines, and ocean energy conversion. His work in mechanical design entails the development and optimization of mechanical systems, while his research in energy harvesting is dedicated to capturing and utilizing various forms of energy.

Dr. Zutao Zhang holds the position of a professor in the School of Mechanical Engineering at Southwest Jiaotong University and serves as the vice president of Chengdu Institute of Technology. His standing in the academic world is further underlined by his inclusion among the top 2% of global scientists in 2023. Dr. Zhang's academic journey began with the completion of his BS and MS degrees in Automotive Design and Manufacturing and Mechanical Design and Theory, achieved at Tianjin University of Science and Technology and Southwest Jiaotong University, China, in 1998 and 2002, respectively. Subsequently, he earned his Ph.D. in Communication and Information Systems from Southwest Jiaotong University in 2010, followed by a post-doctoral fellowship at Iowa State University, USA, with a focus on Automation and Robotics, from 2012 to 2013. His research expertise spans across the domains of renewable and intelligent vehicles, energy harvesting, self-sensing technology, and assistive vehicle safety technology.