Nicolas Van der Noot

Ph.D. Electromechanical Engineer

Born on October 11, 1990, in Brussels
Belgian nationality

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Career

Since 2023
Since 2023	Staff engineer \| Sony Depthsensing Solutions
	As a staff engineer, I lead a team of engineers in the development of cutting-edge AI software for industrial applications. This position allows me to take part in the development of our tools and products, while steering the project with other managers to meet the needs of our customers.
2019-2023
2019-2023	Senior Software Engineer \| Sony Depthsensing Solutions
	I developed and maintained computer vision and machine learning software applications. As a Senior Software Engineer, I was fully responsible for some of our core modules, took part in the product decision meetings and started to perform team management.
2018-2019
2018-2019	R&D Software Engineer \| Sony Depthsensing Solutions
	I developed and maintained computer vision and machine learning software applications.
2017
2017	Research assistant - Ph.D. \| Université catholique de Louvain
	As a follow-up to my thesis, I performed additional research for the WALK-MAN project.

Education

2013-2017
2013-2017	Ph.D. candidate - F.R.S.-FNRS Aspirant
	Joint Ph.D. thesis between UCL \| Université catholique de Louvain and EPFL \| Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.
2011-2013
2011-2013	Master of Science in Engineering, electromechanical orientation (mechatronics)
	UCL \| Université catholique de Louvain - All years: Highest honors
2008-2011
2008-2011	Bachelor of Science in Engineering, specialization in electricity and mechanics
	UCL \| Université catholique de Louvain - All years: Highest honors

Experience

2013-2017
2013-2017	Development of the Robotran simulation software
	In parallel to my Ph.D., I integrated the development team of Robotran, a multi-body simulation environment developed within UCL. I developed the C/C++ pipeline with real-time interactions, and implemented the 3D visualization using OpenGL.
2013-2017
2013-2017	Student projects supervision
	On top of the research carried out during my Ph.D. thesis, I supervised the projects and practical sessions of four different courses (both at UCL and EPFL). I also organized the project of a BEST (Board of European Students of Technology) course. Finally, I supervised six master theses and one semester project.
2012–2013
2012–2013	Erasmus exchange student in Lausanne
	EPFL \| École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Switzerland), courses and master thesis (5 months during fall semester).
2011&2013
2011&2013	Tutor in physics
	Tutoring in physics for UCL students in Bac 1: I was in charge of the exercise sessions of 24 students.
2012
2012	Eurobot cup
	Participation in the 15th edition of Eurobot, an international amateur robotics contest in a team of 5 students (2nd of Belgium and participation in the European final).

Awards

2016
2016	Second place for the Best Conference Paper Award at the 6th IEEE RAS/EMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics, for the paper Bio-inspired balance controller for a humanoid robot (second author).
2014
2014	Third place at the 2014 IEEE Region 8 Student Paper Contest for the paper Zero-Moment Point on a Bipedal Robot under Bio-Inspired Walking Control (first author).
2013
2013	Best master thesis in the fields of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers awarded by the UCLouvain IEEE Student Branch.
2013
2013	Grand Prix - Prix Pierre Decoux 2013 for the best master thesis awarded by AILouvain (Alumni Ingénieurs Louvain).
2008
2008	Top of the promotion (96%) at the admission exam to the Bachelor in Engineering.

Ph.D. thesis

Title
Title	Rich and Robust Bio-Inspired Locomotion Control for Humanoid Robots
Description
Description	Implementation of bio-inspired controllers to achieve dynamic walking on humanoid robots, as part of the WALK-MAN project. The purpose was to obtain robust and human-like walking with biped robots, while steering their gait. This was a joint Ph.D. thesis between two institutes: UCL (within the Center for Research in Mechatronics laboratory) and EPFL (within the Biorobotics laboratory).

Languages

French
French	Mother language
English
English	Fluent (spoken & written)
Dutch
Dutch	Professional (spoken & written)

Computer skills

Languages
Languages	C/C++, Python, C#, Matlab, Java, html, CSS, PHP, JavaScript, SQL, Latex
Tools, libraries
Tools, libraries	Git, Mercurial, OpenGL, OpenCV, Qt, PyQt, SDL, TensorFlow, NNabla, CMake, conan, Unity, Unreal Engine

Personal interests

I am passionate about programming, numerical simulations, artificial intelligence, graphics computing, 3D geometry and robotics.

On a non-professional note, I enjoy playing badminton and tennis, walking, running, cycling, photography, as well as playing and developing video games.

Publications

Journal papers

Van der Noot N, Ijspeert AJ and Ronsse R (2019) Neuromuscular model achieving speed control and steering with a 3D bipedal walker. Autonomous Robots 43(6): pp. 1537-1554. DOI:10.1007/s10514-018-9814-6.
Van der Noot N, Ijspeert AJ and Ronsse R (2018) Bio-inspired controller achieving forward speed modulation with a 3d bipedal walker. The International Journal of Robotics Research 37(1): pp. 168–196. DOI:10.1177/0278364917743320.
Zobova AA, Habra T, Van der Noot N, Dallali H, Tsagarakis NG, Fisette P and Ronsse R (2017) Multi-physics modelling of a compliant humanoid robot. Multibody System Dynamics 39 (1-2), pp. 95-114. DOI: 10.1007/s11044-016-9545-4.

Conference papers

Van der Noot N, Ijspeert AJ and Ronsse R (2020) Trajectory Planning of a Bio-inspired Walker in 3D Cluttered Environments using Internal Models. In: 2020 8th IEEE RAS/EMBS International Conference for Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob), New York (virtual), 29 November-02 December 2020, pp. 727-733. DOI: 10.1109/BioRob49111.2020.9224461.
Greiner P, Van der Noot N, Ijspeert AJ and Ronsse R (2018) Continuous Modulation of Step Height and Length in Bipedal Walking, combining Reflexes and a Central Pattern Generator. In: 2018 7th IEEE International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob), Twente, 26-29 August 2018, pp. 342-349. DOI: 10.1109/BIOROB.2018.8487799.
Harding M, Van der Noot N, Somers B, Ronsse R and Ijspeert AJ (2018) Augmented Neuromuscular Gait Controller Enables Real-time Tracking of Bipedal Running Speed. In: 2018 7th IEEE International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob), Twente, 26-29 August 2018, pp. 364-371. DOI: 10.1109/BIOROB.2018.8488054.
Heremans F, Van der Noot N, Ijspeert AJ and Ronsse R (2016) Bio-inspired balance controller for a humanoid robot. In: 2016 6th IEEE International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob), Singapore, 26-29 June 2016, pp. 441-448. DOI: 10.1109/BIOROB.2016.7523667.
Colasanto L, Van der Noot N and Ijspeert AJ (2015) Bio-inspired walking for humanoid robots using feet with human-like compliance and neuromuscular control. In: 2015 IEEE-RAS 15th International Conference on Humanoid Robots (Humanoids), Seoul, 3-5 Nov. 2015, pp. 26-32. DOI: 10.1109/HUMANOIDS.2015.7363518.
Van der Noot N, Colasanto L, Barrea A, van den Kieboom J, Ronsse R and Ijspeert AJ (2015) Experimental validation of a bio-inspired controller for dynamic walking with a humanoid robot. In: 2015 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), Hamburg, Sept. 28 2015-Oct. 2 2015, pp. 393-400. DOI: 10.1109/IROS.2015.7353403.
Zobova AA, Habra T, Van der Noot N, Dallali H, Tsagarakis NG, Fisette P and Ronsse R (2015) Multi-physics modelling of a compliant humanoid robot. In: ECCOMAS Thematic Conference Multibody Dynamics 2015, Barcelona, 29 June-02 July 2015.
Van der Noot N, Ijspeert AJ and Ronsse R (2015) Biped gait controller for large speed variations, combining reflexes and a central pattern generator in a neuromuscular model. In: 2015 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), Seattle, WA, 26-30 May 2015, pp. 6267-6274. DOI: 10.1109/ICRA.2015.7140079.
Van der Noot N and Barrea A (2014) Zero-Moment Point on a bipedal robot under bio-inspired walking control. In: MELECON 2014 - 17th IEEE Mediterranean Electrotechnical Conference, Beirut, 13-16 April 2014, pp. 85-90. DOI: 10.1109/MELCON.2014.6820512.

Poster presentations

Van der Noot N, Ijspeert AJ and Ronsse R (2016) Neuro-Muscular Controller Based on Reflexes and a Central Pattern Generator to Achieve Gait Modulation. In: KoroiBot Final Workshop, Heidelberg, 13-14 September 2016.
Van der Noot N, Ijspeert AJ and Ronsse R (2016) Humanoid Robot Control Recruiting Muscles, Reflexes and a Central Pattern Generator. In: IEEE-EMB Benelux Chapter and the 14th National Day on Biomedical Engineering, Brussels, 4 March 2016.
Van der Noot N, Colasanto L, Ronsse R and Ijspeert AJ (2015) Porting Reflex-Based Muscles Control to Real Humanoid Robots. In: 2015 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) - Workshop on Dynamic Locomotion and Balancing, Seattle, WA, 26 May 2015.
Van der Noot N, Dzeladini F, Ijspeert AJ and Ronsse R (2014) Simplification of the Hill Muscle Model Computation for Real-Time Walking Controllers with Large Time Steps. In: Dynamic Walking, Zurich, 10-13 June 2014.