Connor Ricotta graduated from Automation Systems Engineering Technology (BTECH) at McMaster University in December 2022. In January 2023 he began a Master of Applied Science (MASc) under the supervision of Dr. Ali Emadi, before transferring into the PhD program in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) in September of the same year. His research focuses on the development and optimization of control architectures for electrified autonomous vehicles, with an emphasis on energy-efficient system integration, V2X-enabled decision-making, and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
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Connor’s decision to join McMaster University’s BTech program was influenced by a range of hobbies he developed growing up, including woodworking and experimenting with computers and electronics. The program’s hands-on learning environment offered through numerous labs and class projects enabled him to continue developing his technical skills throughout his undergraduate studies. In his fourth year, after learning about the EcoCAR Challenge from peers, he joined the System Design and Integration team as an electrical member. This role provided direct experience integrating software and hardware systems within a real-world vehicle platform. After starting graduate studies, he joined the Connected and Automated Vehicles team, becoming the lead during year 2 of the competition and holding the role since.
During his undergrad he held several co-op positions, including a role at Zeton as a Jr. Controls Specialist, helping develop PLC controls and HMI systems for chemical process plants. He has also held a Research Assistant role at MARC as part of the CERC@MARC team, developing a programable shifting robot to be used with the chassis dyno during vehicle testing. While on EcoCAR, he has been able to work on a wide range of projects gaining experience creating custom automotive wire harnesses, developing and manufacturing PCBs, developing ADAS features such as adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and intersection navigation, while integrating this into a stock vehicle system.
Beginning in January 2023, Connor joined the CERC@MARC team in the Master of Applied Science (MASc) program under Dr. Ali Emadi in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). After a semester he transferred into the PhD program in the same department in September 2023. His research is focused on the development and optimization of control architectures for electrified autonomous vehicles, with an emphasis on energy-efficient system integration and V2X-enabled supervisory decision-making.
