During his PhD studies, Dario Sirangelo has explored how high-fidelity vehicle modelling and simulation tools can support the development and verification of the next-generation of autonomous vehicle systems.

His work includes the design, instrumentation and implementation of a physical-digital twin system of an autonomous off-road vehicle, OLAV (Off-Road Light Autonomous Vehicle), used to evaluate key autonomous system capabilities, including localization, perception, obstacle avoidance, and leader–follower navigation.

Using high-fidelity multibody vehicle simulations, Dario Sirangelo has developed and assessed model-based algorithms in terrain-aware path planning, high-speed navigation in unstructured environments, and integrated camera and LiDAR sensing for leader-follower scenarios. Moreover, through his research, he has developed an end-to-end open-source software framework for conducting systematic vehicle simulation studies and generating vehicle performance metrics.

The results demonstrate that the early adoption of simulation-driven methodologies can substantially enhance system performance and reliability, while simultaneously streamlining verification efforts for autonomous vehicle technologies.

The PhD study was completed at the Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Tuesday, 26 May 2026 at 08:00
Place: Building 1510, room 104, Lille Auditorium i Incuba, Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Aarhus University, Åbogade 15, 8200 Aarhus N
Title of PhD thesis: A Simulation-Driven Approach to the Development and Verification of Autonomous Vehicle Systems
Contact information: Dario Sirangelo, e-mail: dsi@mpe.au.dk, tel.: +45 93 50 89 63
Members of the assessment committee:
Distinguished Scientist Radu Serban, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
Chief Technologist Abhinandan Jain, Karana Dynamics, Pasadena, USA
Associate Professor Alessandro Lucantonio (chair), Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor: Professor Ole Balling, Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Aarhus University, Denmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C.