Max Donath
Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Director, Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute
Office: 211 Mechanical Engineering
Phone: 612-625-2304
E-mail: donath@me.umn.edu
Home page
Donath's Department of Mechanical Engineering page
Research projects
Donath's CTS research projects
Dr. Donath has published widely, documenting the design, development and experimental validation of innovative approaches that integrate sensors, intelligence, and motor control in order to assist humans with the performance of complex tasks.
His most recent efforts have been directed toward the application of emerging sensor technologies and control systems to reduce driver error and the resulting road fatalities and life changing crashes. He together with his team, have adapted theory to design and have built tools that can be experimentally validated on the road. As a result, many of these innovations are now being deployed in the field, including a system that is being integrated into the fleet of a major vehicle manufacturer.
His current research includes:
- driver assistive technologies, collision avoidance and other means for enhancing transportation safety;
- human machine interfaces for the driver; and,
- emerging sensor technologies.
He is working to develop systems that reduce lane departure and intersection crashes that result in road fatalities and serious injury. He is particularly interested in age related effects associated with teenage and older drivers.
Donath received a B. Eng. in mechanical engineering from McGill University, and went on to earn S.M. and Ph.D. degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He joined the University of Minnesota in 1978, and since 1997, has directed the ITS Institute affiliated with the Center for Transportation Studies.