Applied Sciences Webinar | Innovations in Autonomous Driving and Vehicle Intelligence
Applied Sciences Webinar | Innovations in Autonomous Driving and Vehicle Intelligence
Part of the Applied Sciences Webinar series
5 February 2026
Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, Vehicle Intelligence, Cyber Security, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence
Welcome from the Chair
Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening to everyone joining us from different parts of the world.
On behalf of the editorial team, it is my pleasure to welcome you to this webinar discussing the topic of the Special Issue "Innovations in Autonomous Driving and Vehicle Intelligence".
I am Dr. Manoj K. Jha, the Guest Editor of this Special Issue, and I will be chairing today’s session. With me, I have Dr. Khemmar Redouane, joining us today from France. Dr. Khemmar is an Associate Professor and Researcher at ESIGELEC, where he is affiliated with the IRSEEM research institute at Normandy University. We are also honored to have Dr. Corey Harper with us, who is an Assistant Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Heinz School of Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University. Thank you for taking the time to join us and for your interest in contributing to this important and rapidly evolving area of research.
During today’s webinar, I will present my latest research in connected and autonomous vehicle navigation and cybersecurity. I will then briefly introduce the scope and objectives of the Special Issue, highlight the types of contributions we are seeking, and share guidance on what makes a strong submission.
Next, Dr. Khemmar will deliver a presentation focused on environmental perception in two key areas of smart mobility: road/railway systems and mobile robotics/healthcare. The presentation aims to explore advanced analytical methods for understanding complex scenes, with the goal of achieving smart mobility characterized by high levels of safety, comfort, and energy efficiency.
Afterwards, Dr. Harper will present his work on using machine learning (ML)- SHAP interpretations to better understand how individual factors (e.g., weather) play a role in the severity of crashes involving autonomous vehicles.
We will conclude with an open Q&A session, and I strongly encourage you to use that time to ask questions about topic fit, submission expectations, and the review process.
Once again, thank you for joining us. We look forward to your participation today and to receiving your contributions to this Special Issue.
Date: 5 February 2026
Time: 4:00 pm CET | 10:00 am EST
Webinar ID: 829 0526 0938
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Registration
This is a FREE webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Certificates of attendance will be delivered to those who attend the live webinar.
Can’t attend? Register anyway and we’ll let you know when the recording is available to watch.
Event Chair
Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Navigation, Data Structure Issues, and Cybersecurity
Prof. Dr. Manoj K. Jha is the Founder and CEO of MKJHA Consulting, Inc., a U.S.-based deep-tech startup developing quantum-inspired cybersecurity technologies for data centers, transportation systems, and critical infrastructure. He also serves as Associate Adjunct Professor of Information Technology at the University of Maryland Global Campus and Adjunct Professor of Civil Engineering at George Washington University. Prof. Dr. Jha has published over 200 technical papers in leading international journals and conferences and is listed among the Top 2% Researchers in the World by Stanford University–Elsevier (2025). His research focuses on quantum-randomized secure computation (Q-SMPC), quantum random number generation (Q-RNG), and quantum-randomized anomaly detection (Q-RAD) to achieve quantum-level cybersecurity without requiring quantum hardware. He serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Computational and Cognitive Engineering, Guest Editor of the MDPI–Applied Sciences special issue on “Innovations in Autonomous Driving and Vehicle Intelligence,” and Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Data Science and Intelligent Systems. Dr. Jha collaborates with Georgetown University, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Maryland College Park to advance the integration of AI, cybersecurity, quantum computing, and transportation resilience.
Keynote Speakers
Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Navigation, Data Structure Issues, and Cybersecurity
Dr. Manoj K. Jha is the Founder and CEO of MKJHA Consulting, Inc., a U.S.-based deep-tech startup developing quantum-inspired cybersecurity technologies for data centers, transportation systems, and critical infrastructure. He also serves as Associate Adjunct Professor of Information Technology at the University of Maryland Global Campus and Adjunct Professor of Civil Engineering at George Washington University. Dr. Jha has published over 200 technical papers in leading international journals and conferences and is listed among the Top 2% Researchers in the World by Stanford University–Elsevier (2025). His research focuses on quantum-randomized secure computation (Q-SMPC), quantum random number generation (Q-RNG), and quantum-randomized anomaly detection (Q-RAD) to achieve quantum-level cybersecurity without requiring quantum hardware. He serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Computational and Cognitive Engineering, Guest Editor of the MDPI–Applied Sciences special issue on “Innovations in Autonomous Driving and Vehicle Intelligence,” and Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Data Science and Intelligent Systems. Dr. Jha collaborates with Georgetown University, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Maryland College Park to advance the integration of AI, cybersecurity, quantum computing, and transportation resilience.
IRSEEM Research Institute, ESIGELEC Engineering High School (University of Rouen Normandy), France
AI-based Perception for Autonomous Vehicle and Smart Mobility
Dr. Khemmar is a pioneering researcher with over 19 years of experience at the intersection of AI, computer vision, and mobile robotics. His work focuses on enabling robust, real-world autonomy—specifically in autonomous vehicles and smart mobility systems—by bridging advanced perception and decision-making algorithms with practical, embedded deployment. This translational approach has resulted in significant achievements, carrying out around twenty large-scale R&D projects, including securing over €10M in European competitive funding by project, authoring 90+ publications in top-tier venues (e.g., ICCV, ECCV, IV, IEEE Access), and developing very high-TRL platforms like smart wheelchairs (TRL8) and autonomous vehicles (TRL7) for academic and industrial partners. His research is directly aligned with advancing the core challenges of autonomous navigation and smart mobility: safety, robustness, and intelligence.
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, United States
Incorporating new mobility modes into regional traffic demand models
Dr. Corey Harper is an Assistant Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Heinz School of Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University. In his role as the director of the Future Mobility Systems Lab he leads a team of researchers who explore the infrastructure and policy implications of emerging transportation technologies (e.g., autonomous vehicles and micromobility). The affordability analysis side of his team applies equity metrics to assess how policy and regulation could affect the distribution of transportation resources. The modeling and simulation side of his group is focused on incorporating new mobility modes (e.g., micromobility and e-commerce) into regional traffic demand models to promote better long-range planning of the transportation system. Dr. Harper is a recipient of multiple Mobility 21 Research awards and a Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technology Alliance Grant and is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems. Before becoming a professor, Dr. Harper was a consulting at Booz Allen Hamilton, helping USDOT and DOD with the integration of connected and automated vehicles.
Programme
| Speaker | Presentation | Time in CET | Time in EST |
| Prof. Dr. Manoj Jha | Chair Introduction | 4:00 – 4:10 pm | 10:00 – 10:10 am |
| Prof. Dr. Manoj Jha | Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Navigation, Data Structure Issues, and Cybersecurity | 4:10 – 4:30 pm | 10:10 – 10:30 am |
| Dr. Redouane Khemmar | AI-based Perception for Autonomous Vehicle and Smart Mobility | 4:30 – 4:50 pm | 10:30 – 10:50 am |
| Dr. Corey Harper | Incorporating New Mobility Modes into Regional Traffic Demand Models | 4:50 – 5:10 pm | 10:50 – 11:10 am |
| Q&A | 5:10 – 5:25 pm | 11:10 – 11:25 am | |
| Prof. Dr. Manoj Jha | Closing of Webinar | 5:25 – 5:30 pm | 11:25 – 11:30 am |
Relevant Special Issue
"Innovations in Autonomous Driving and Vehicle Intelligence"
Special Issue Editors: Dr. Manoj K. Jha
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2026
Sponsors and Partners
Organizers
