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Aleksander Leonidovich Shestakov
Professor, Doctor of Engineering Science
SUSU Rector
Chairman of Rectors’ Council of the Ural Federal District
Honored Worker of Higher Education of the Russian Federation
Head of the Department of Information-Measurement Systems
Aleksander Leonidovich Shestakov has worked at South Ural State University as a graduate-associate, engineer, junior research assistant, assistant, assistant professor, professor, Head of Department, Head of Faculty, and Vice-Rector for Research; he now holds the position of the University Rector Throughout his career, Prof Shestakov has been engaged in research and its practical implementation.
Prof Shestakov’s early research focused on dynamic test-measurement system theory for land-based testing of aerospace systems. This research helped to develop schemes and constructions of motion-base simulators with high-performance dynamic characteristics when testing objects and systems of high baricentric parameters. This allowed developing unique test complexes. In particular, a complex for sea-launched ballistic missile control system test was developed for the State Rocket Center n.a. V.P. Makeyev (Miass). This complex possesses high-performance dynamic characteristics, as well as the complex for space vehicle “Buran” control system (NPO Elektropribor, Kharkov).
The next step of his research was devoted to the theory of dynamic measurements. Before Prof Shestakov’s research, this field had developed in two directions. The first direction was based on the use of forward and reverse Fourier transformation. The second direction was based on the solution of Fredholm integral equations.
Prof Shestakov proposed and developed the third approach based on the application of automatic control theory methods. He developed a method of dynamic measurement system synthesis for maximum permissible values of the dynamic error. He also developed a synthesis method of dynamic measurement systems optimized on the criterion of the measurement root mean square error. Prof Shestakov also proposed structures of iterative dynamic measurement systems and investigated their properties. He developed sliding dynamic measurement systems with high dynamic accuracy. Prof Shestakov used the method of neural network technology and developed a class of neural network dynamic measurement systems.
Currently, research developments in the field of dynamic measurements are based on the theory of differential Leontief type equations. At South Ural State University, cooperation between the University engineers and mathematicians has set up a new research direction - optimal dynamic measurements; these days, the research is conducted under Prof Shestakov’s supervision. The researchers’ results consider resonance-frequency behavior of dynamic measurements, and expand the knowledge on stochastic dynamic measurement systems.
Thanks to Prof Shestakov’s supervision and guidance, SUSU scientists have been conducting studies on system self-diagnosis, measurement and executive devices. The research has allowed to create intelligent automated control systems of technological processes of high reliability and performance. Prof Shestakov’s research results provided information on temperature sensor diagnosis taking their sensitivity into account.
Prof Shestakov trains highly-skilled professionals. He has supervised 10 PhD students and 3 doctoral students in Technical Sciences; a big group of scientists is to defend their dissertations under his supervision. Prof Shestakov is a chairman of two Dissertation Councils at South Ural State University. Prof Shestakov is the author of more than 170 scientific papers including 1 monograph, 5 teaching manuals, 5 authorship certificates, 7 patents in the field of automatic control systems and information measurement systems and ground-based test measurement missile systems.
Prof Shestakov is the Head of SUSU Development Program. Thanks to the Program, the University was awarded the title National Research University. In 2011, SUSU and its partners (Program Systems Institute of RAS and RSC Group) created «SKIF-Aurora SUSU» Supercomputer with peak performance of 117,64 TFlops. The computer took the 87th place in TOP500 (2011). Its special feature is the node which is 1,5 times smaller than the node of Fujitsu Japan supercomputer which took the 1st place in TOP500; that said, the electronic element packing density is 1,5 times higher, while node performance is the same. The SUSU supercomputer is used for more than 250 tasks each year, half of which engineering-related. The University Development Program puts supercomputing modeling at the heart of all University priority research areas, boosting research in a broad range of research fields.
On Prof Shestakov’s initiative, for over 10 years SUSU has been a strategic partner of Emerson, the world leader in the field of automation solutions. SUSU has provided Emerson with highly-skilled engineers. SUSU conducts research in cooperation with Emerson. The cooperation has triggered the establishment of unique research laboratories at SUSU and the development of student grant system in the field of technology. As the result of SUSU-Emerson cooperation, Global Engineering Emerson Center was opened. In 2015, Emerson built a plant in Chelyabinsk specialized on measurement instrument production and production of ATPCS equipment of the last generation.
Under Prof Shestakov’s supervision, the University successfully conducts research in cooperation with Russian enterprises in the defense industry. In particular, the University performs more than 50 industry orders annually in terms of research and development. The University supervises projects by the Makeyev Design Bureau, Scientific and Production Association of automatics named after academician N.A.Semikhatov, Zababakhin All-Russian Scientific Research Institute for Technical Physics, and many others. Under Prof Shestakov’s guidance, SUSU is involved in major R&D projects on the new technology and its production for the Ural Region. The 7 projects have been supported by the RF Government Decree No.218.
In 2005, Prof Shestakov initiated the creation of the Inter-regional Council on Science and Technology. The Council aims at coordination and cooperation of research and science in high-tech industries.
Prof Shestakov is the Сhief Editor of SUSU Bulletin, one of the leading peer-reviewed journals. The Mathematical Simulation and Programming journal series is indexed by SCOPUS and Web of Science.
In 2015, under Prof Shestakov’s guidance, SUSU became a participant of Project 5-100. Now, the University is developing in line with the Academic Excellence Program requirements to become one of the world leading international education centers. SUSU success cannot be imagined without Prof Shestakov’s personal qualities. He is known for his honesty, strategic leadership, self-discipline, broad knowledge, and hard work.
Prof Shestakov is an Honored Worker of Higher Education of the Russian Federation. He was awarded the medal of Legislative Assembly of Chelyabinsk Oblast «For merit in legislative activity» and the Order «For merit to the Fartherland» II class, as well as medals of academicians V.P. Makeyev, N.A. Pilyugin, and N.A. Semikhatov.
