
Control engineering technologies are used in all aspects of our lives, from familiar household appliances—such as air conditioners and refrigerators—to information technology systems and finance. Associate professor Wenjing Cao from the Faculty of Science and Technology aims to solve various social issues through the application of control engineering.
Control engineering is an academic field that looks at ways to make machines move according to our intentions. The principles on which things work are confirmed and expressed as mathematical equations, and control systems are designed based on these equations. Simulations and experiments using actual objects are conducted to verify if these systems work functionally.
Within the field of control engineering, I specialize in optimization and its application in autonomous driving robot and automobile. In robotics, I am undertaking research for the autonomous driving of electric wheelchairs and other kinds of mobile robots equipped with different sensors. Currently, it is possible to autonomously drive the wheelchair to a destination while avoiding obstacles, with the route being automatically planned and followed after setting the destination.
The next step is to become capable of responding to moving obstacles. The goal is for future application in places such as nursing care facilities, general roads, train stations, and shopping centers to assist the movement of people with physical disabilities or elderlies.
Automatic merging on expressways and giving way to emergency vehicles

My automotive-related research themes deal with the movement control of autonomous vehicles and the control of powertrains (which are components that transmit driving force). In the area of movement control, I am looking at automatic merging on expressways.
When you forcefully try to merge on an expressway, the vehicles in front and behind will have to significantly accelerate or decelerate, causing congestion from drastic changes in speed when traffic is high. I am building a system that avoids these situations by simultaneously controlling the merging vehicle and those on the expressway to change speed gradually and make space for the merging vehicle.
Of course, control can be carried out with focus if all vehicles are autonomous, but what should be done if only some of them are autonomous vehicles, or if there is a mix of conventional engine vehicles and electric vehicles with differences in acceleration and deceleration performance? It is necessary to think of movement control that fits all kinds of conditions.
I am also exploring the creation of a system that applies this research to give way to emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire engines. I have seen cases where roads were congested and emergency vehicles had difficulty moving forward even though their sirens were sounding. Automatically controlling all vehicles to let emergency vehicles through quickly, whether it is one second or one minute, will help to save people’s lives.
Contribute to society also motivates students
One of the things that I am working on with students now is the development of an energy supply system that uses electric vehicles. How do we supply electricity to isolated families in disaster areas—such as those from earthquakes—or sparsely populated areas? I think electric vehicles can be used to address such issues.
Electric vehicles are themselves batteries, and they can therefore become batteries that move. They can be charged at charging stations, then driven to transport electricity to supply families that need electricity. However, batteries are limited in their charging capacity, and it is important to have route plans that bring electricity efficiently to each household.
Besides using the shortest route to minimize battery use along the way, it is also important to consider the road gradient and congestion. As electricity demand also differs depending on the household composition, the way of supplying electricity will also differ accordingly. We are undertaking research on delivering electricity to as many households as possible while taking into account various conditions.
The desire to contribute to society also motivates students —I think this is common to all issues. Going forward, I hope to continue working on research that has value to this world, research that motivates both my students and me.
The book I recommend
“The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth”
by Morgan Scott Peck, Japanese translation by Hiroshi Uijihara and Takako Yano, Sogensha

The author encountered various problems as a clinical psychiatrist. This book introduces cases of featuring these problems and psychotherapy treatments for them. Flipping through its pages whenever something troubles me, this book had a significant impact on my life.
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Wenjing Cao
- Associate Professor
Department of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Faculty of Science and Technology
- Associate Professor
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Graduated from the Electrical Engineering and its Automation course in the School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Tianjin University, and obtained her Master’s in Engineering after completing the university’s Electrical Engineering Theory and New Technology master’s program. Obtained her Ph.D. in Engineering after completing the doctoral program of the Department of Automotive Science, Graduate School of Integrated Frontier Sciences, Kyushu University. Took on several positions—such as working at the Powertrain Advanced Engineering Department, Powertrain Engineering Division, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and as assistant professor at the Department of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Sophia University—before assuming her current position in 2023.
- Department of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Interviewed: October 2023