On November 12, 2025, Mr. Ali M. Mustafa—MSc student in Electrical Engineering (Control) at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM)—delivered a seminar titled “Fast and Safe 3D Crane Motion Using I-LQR and Dynamic Path Planning.”

The talk outlined an optimal control and navigation framework for 3D overhead cranes that marries precision with safety. Mustafa detailed an Integral LQR (I-LQR) controller whose gains are tuned via Differential Evolution to deliver rapid, smooth moves with zero overshoot, even under challenging load conditions. He complemented the controller with a modified Dynamic Window Approach (DWA) that plans collision-free paths in real time, enabling the crane to avoid obstacles while transporting payloads. Together, the methods improve positioning accuracy, shorten transfer times, and reduce sway—without compromising operational safety.

Attendees left with practical strategies for deploying modern control and motion-planning stacks in industrial settings: how to co-tune I-LQR and trajectory constraints for overshoot-free responses, integrate DWA for obstacle-aware navigation, and enforce safety margins that translate from simulation to shop-floor execution.

The following are the highlights of the event: