Dr. Howard Chen

Assistant Professor, ISEEM

Contact

5000 Technology Drive NW
Olin B. King Technology Hall
Room N134
Huntsville, AL 35899
Campus Map

256.824.6749
howard.chen@uah.edu

Biography

Howard Chen is an Assistant Professor for the Industrial & Systems Engineering and Engineering Management (ISEEM) department at UAH. Dr. Chen’s research interests broadly span the areas of Robotics, Navigation, Biomechanics, and Occupational Ergonomics, where he focuses on (i) the navigation of vehicles and pedestrians, (ii) the development of control systems for wearable robotics, and (iii) the development and application of wearable sensors for biomechanical motion analysis. Much of his work leverages multi-sensor data fusion, state estimation, machine learning, and miniature MEMS-based gyroscopes, accelerometers, and magnetometers. Prior to joining UAH, Dr. Chen was a Postdoctoral Fellow and Assistant Research Professor for the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Auburn University working primarily within the GPS & Vehicle Dynamics Lab (GAVLAB). Dr. Chen received his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering at The University of Iowa, where he was a NIOSH Fellow and a Graduate Research Assistant within the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health.

Curriculum Vitae

Education

  • Ph.D., Industrial Engineering, The University of Iowa, 2017
  • M.S., Industrial Engineering, The University of Iowa, 2012
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, The University of Iowa, 2010

Affiliations

  • Board Member- Tennessee Valley Human Factors & Ergonomics Society Chapter (2023- Present)
  • Institution Review Board External Member- CFD Research Corporation (2025-Present)
  • Institutional Review Board Representative for College of Engineering (2024-Present)
  • College of Engineering Safety Committee (2024-Present)

Expertise

  • Occupational Ergonomics
  • Wearable Sensors
  • Robotics
  • Navigation
  • Human Factors/Ergonomics
  • Biomechanical Motion Analysis
  • Sensor Fusion/Optimal State Estimation
  • Machine Learning
  • Inertial Sensors

Recent Publications

  • Hicks, H. N., Chen, H., & Harper, S. A. (2025). Sensor Fusion for enhancing motion capture: Integrating optical and inertial motion capture systems. Sensors, 25(15), 4680.

  • Tettey, A., Pham, H., Chen, H., Wu, D., & Wooley, A. (2025). A decision support framework for electric demand planning in distribution systems during extreme minimum temperatures. Energy Reports, 14, 1137-1148.

  • Hollinger, D., Pollard, R. S., Schall Jr, M. C., Chen, H., & Zabala, M. (2024). A Hierarchical-Based Learning Approach for Multi-Action Intent Recognition. Sensors, 24(23), 7857.

  • Nail-Ulloa, I., Huangfu, R., Zabala, M., Hani, D. B., Pool, N., Chen, H., ... & Gallagher, S. (2024). Assessing the accuracy of a wireless sensor system for estimating lumbar moments during manual lifting tasks considering the effects of load weight, asymmetry, and height. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 103, 103636.

  • Hollinger, D., Schall Jr, M.C., Chen, H., Zabala, M. (2024). The Effect of Sensor Feature Inputs on Joint Angle Prediction across Simple Movements. Sensors, 24(11), 3657.

  • Nail-Ulloa, I., Zabala, M., Sesek, R., Chen, H., Schall Jr, M. C., & Gallagher, S. (2024). Estimating Compressive and Shear Forces at L5-S1: Exploring the Effects of Load Weight, Asymmetry, and Height Using Optical and Inertial Motion Capture Systems. Sensors, 24(6), 1941.

  • Chen, H., Schall Jr, M. C., Martin, S. M., & Fethke, N. B. (2023). Drift-Free Joint Angle Calculation Using Inertial Measurement Units without Magnetometers: An Exploration of Sensor Fusion Methods for the Elbow and Wrist. Sensors, 23(16), 7053.

  • Hollinger, D., Schall Jr, M.C., Chen, H., Bass, S., & Zabala, M. (2023). The Influence of Gait Phase on Predicting Lower-limb Joint Angles. IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics.

  • Chen, H., Schall Jr, M. C., & Fethke, N. B. (2023). Gyroscope vector magnitude: A proposed method for measuring angular velocities. Applied Ergonomics, 109, 103981.

  • Schall Jr, M. C., Chen, H., & Cavuoto, L. (2022). Wearable inertial sensors for objective kinematic assessments: a brief overview. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2022.2100407