Bio
Adian Cook is a Staff R&D Engineer in the Applied Research for Mobility Systems (ARMS) group at ORNL. Adian is the project lead for a sample of efforts at ORNL, including leading cross-laboratory and multi-disciplinary research in Cooperative Driving Automation (CDA). This work is paramount to the CDA controls and algorithm development, virtual scenario generation, and development of CDA communication requirements at ORNL, DOE, DOT, and associated laboratories. In addition, Adian leads the Controller Area Network Transport Security Tracking and Reporting (C-STAR) project sponsored by the Office for Radiological Security (ORS). This project aims to secure a myriad of heavy-duty high-risk vehicle shipments by leveraging onboard telemetry and vehicle sensors on a modular and flexible edge computing platform. Adian is also a significant contributor to the Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) testing and integration being completed onsite in various projects and efforts. In addition, he was the lead software engineer of a project that developed ORNL’s first autonomous people mover - the Ground-based Robotic Omnidirectional Vehicle for Electric Research (GROVER).
Adian is experienced in vehicle integration, algorithm development, artificial intelligence (AI), embedded hardware, anything-in-the-loop (XIL), and virtual vehicle environments. His developed code and algorithms are used throughout many models, libraries, and codesets throughout the ARMS group. He also provides oversight of dynamometer testing in the Vehicle Systems Integration (VSI) Laboratory and is the Lab Space Manger (LSM) and Principal Investigator of the Connected and Automated Vehicle Environment (CAVE) Laboratory. Other projects at the lab include efforts in AI, cybersecurity, cloud telematics, vehicle telemetry, dynamic wireless charging, and hydrogen fuel cells.
Currently, Adian serves as the committee chair for the Transportation Security Unified Stakeholder's Group's (TSUSG) priority committee on AI as well as an active member in the Transportation Research Board's AED 50 AI subcommittee in Edge Computing. Externally, he is also recognized as a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Professional Experience
2017 - present, R&D Staff, ORNL
2016 - 2017, Controls Engineer, New Eagle
2014 - 2016, Controls Lead, EcoCAR 3
2015, Engineering Intern, New Eagle
2010 - 2012, Research Assistant, Sewanee: The University of the South
Education
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2025 (expected)
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2016
B.S. in Physics, Sewanee: The University of the South, 2013
Professional Affiliations
SAE International - Member
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) - Senior Member
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) - Member
Transportation Security Unified Stakeholders Group (TSUSG) - Committee Chair, Priority Committee on Artificial Intelligence
Transportation Research Board (TRB) - Member, AED 50 Subcommittee on Edge Computing