Darrell L. Robinette

Contact

dlrobine@mtu.edu
906-487-2764
R. L. Smith 1020A

Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

PhD, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University
BS, Mechanical Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Biography

Darrell L. Robinette, Ph.D., P.E., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Michigan Technological University. He returned to his alma mater in 2016 following a distinguished nine-year career at General Motors, where he served as a Senior Project Engineer specializing in advanced hybrid and electrification architectures, powertrain integration, and NVH. An innovator, Darrell holds 15 granted US patents from his time in the automotive industry.
At Michigan Tech, his research and teaching objectives focus on bridging the gap between industry and academia by training the next generation of engineers for careers in advanced propulsion. His research centers on mobility systems electrification, heavy-duty vehicle hybridization, and energy-optimized connected and automated vehicle (CAV) controls. As a PI or Co-PI, Darrell has secured more than $18 million in research funding from key corporate and federal sponsors, including the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, ARPA-E, General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and BorgWarner.

Areas of Expertise and Research Interests

• Propulsion System Electrification & Integration
• Connected & Automated Vehicles (CAVs)
• Powertrain Dynamics & NVH
• Transmission Calibration & Control Optimization

Publications

Czarnecki, A., Goodenough, B., Worm, J., Robinette, D., et al. (2026). "Heavy-Duty Nonroad Material Handler Electrification Part 1: Real-World Drive Cycle Development" & "Part 2: Energy Efficiency and Performance Evaluation," SAE International Journal of Commercial Vehicles, 19(3).
Santhosh, P., Robinette, D., Knopp, D., Naber, J., Bae, J. (2025). "Energy-Aware Optimal Reconfiguration of a Heterogeneous Connected and Automated Vehicle Cohort on a Limited-Access Highway," Vehicles, 7(3).
Goodenough, B., Czarnecki, A., Robinette, D., Worm, J. et al. (2025). "Refining Control, Charging, and Battery Chemistry for CO2e Savings in Heavy-Duty Off-Road Plug-In Series Hybrid," SAE International Journal of Electric Vehicles, 14(2).
Jurmu, L., Robinette, D., Blough, J. et al. (2025). "Torque Converter Dynamic Characterization Using Torque Transmissibility Frequency Response Functions: Open Clutch, Hydro-Mechanical Response," Experimental Techniques.
Goyal, V., Dudekula, A., Stutenberg, K., Robinette, D. et al. (2025). "Real-Time Implementable Reduced-Order Energy Model for an Electric Vehicle," SAE International Journal of Electric Vehicles, 14(1).

Conference Proceedings

Babcock, D. and Robinette, D. (2026). "Electrified Propulsion System Balancing for Light Duty Full Size Truck and Sport Utility Vehicles: A 2026 North American Market Perspective," WCX SAE World Congress Experience, Detroit, MI.
Schexnaydre, L., Poovalappil, A., Robinette, D., and Bos, J. (2026). "A Comparison of Road Grade Preview Signals from Lidar and Maps," WCX SAE World Congress Experience, Detroit, MI.
Balambeed, V., Poovalappil, A., Bahramgiri, M, Robinette, D, Naber, J, & Chen, B. (2025). "Estimation of Queue Length and Greenlight Duration at Signalized Intersection Using Collaborative Perception and Machine Learning Methods in V2X Environments," Proceedings of the ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences (IDETC/CIE), Anaheim, CA.
Poovalappil, A., Robare, A., Schexnaydre, L., Santhosh, P., Bahramgiri, M., Bos, J., Chen, B., Naber, J. and Robinette, D. (2025). "On-Road Investigation of Energy Saving Opportunity for Autonomous Light-Duty Vehicles through Automated Vehicle-Following in Safe Distance Scenarios," SAE Technical Paper 2025-01-8029.
Robare, A., Poovalappil, A., Udipi, A., Bhure, M., Bahramgiri, M., Robinette, D., Naber, J. and Chen B. (2025). "On-Vehicle Optimum Route Selection for a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle," SAE Technical Paper 2025-01-8388.

Presentations

Panelist, "Evolution of Electrified Drivetrains in Light Duty Mobility: 10-Year Horizon," SAE WCX, 2025.
Panelist, "EV Technologies of the Future – University Projects & Perspectives," CTI Symposium USA, 2024.
Panelist, "EV Drive Units: Make or Buy?" CTI Symposium USA, 2024.
Invited Speaker, "Cost of Carbon Abatement for Electrification of Heavy-Duty Off-Road Material Handler," CTI Symposium USA, 2024.
Panelist, "Engineering Solutions for Future Automotive Propulsion" & "Strategic Vision for Future Automotive Propulsion," SAE WCX, 2023.

Patents

Triple Input Clutch Transmission, General Motors Company – Patent Granted July 5, 2016, US 9382975 B2
Transmission Clutch Control Using Lumped Inertia Modeling, General Motors Company – Patent Granted March 10, 2015, US 8977457 B2
Mechanism to Reduce Powertrain Rigid Body Motion During Start/Stop, General Motors Company – Patent Granted December 16, 2014, US 8910607 B2
Multiple Gear Ratio Starter Motor, General Motors Company – Patent Granted September 9, 2014, US 8826878 B2
Nine Speed Dual Clutch Transmission, General Motors Company – Patent Granted March 11, 2014, US 8668616 B2
Torque Transmission Assembly with Clutches, General Motors Company – Patent Granted January 21, 2014, US 8631918 B2
Torque Splitting Torque Converter Assembly, General Motors Company – Patent Granted January 14, 2014, US 8628441 B2
Variable Ratio Powersplit Hybrid Transmission, General Motors Company – Patent Granted November 19, 2013, US 8585521 B2
Multi-Speed Hybrid Powertrain with Series and Parallel Operating Modes, General Motors Company – Patent Granted September 10, 2013, US 8532858 B1
Variable Ratio Power-split Hybrid Transmission, General Motors Company – Patent Granted July 16, 2013, US 8485930 B2
Single Mode Compound Powersplit Hybrid Drive Unit, General Motors Company – Patent Granted Nov 27, 2012, US 8317648 B2
Multi-stage Propeller Shaft Damper for Variable Cylinder Engines, General Motors Company Patent – Patent Granted Sept 4, 2012, US 8256562 B2