Wednesday, Feb 05, 2025 • Brian Lopez : contact

The University of Texas at Arlington’s Computer Science and Engineering Department has received a $450,000 gift from HF Controls, a global instrumentation and control systems manufacturer. This gift will fund research aimed at creating improved processes for developing, testing and validating nuclear plant control systems.

Yonghe Liu, an associate professor of computer science and engineering, will lead the team exploring how artificial intelligence can reduce labor and time demands while ensuring strict adherence to stringent regulations governing the highly specialized nuclear industry.

“Nuclear energy plays a critical role in our global quest for reliable low-carbon power,” Dr. Liu said. “However, to fully unlock its potential, we must ensure that the control systems governing nuclear operations are not only efficient, but also unwaveringly safe and secure. With this gift from HF Controls, we are exploring how leveraging cutting-edge AI techniques can shorten development cycles, improve system robustness and help maintain nuclear power’s role as a safe, efficient and vital energy source.”

Peter Crouch, dean of UTA’s College of Engineering, said the gift aligns with UTA’s commitment to expanding corporate partnerships both in North Texas and across the nation.

“We are grateful for this generous gift from HF Controls that will allow Dr. Liu to apply his research to real-world challenges,” Dr. Crouch said. “Industry partnerships are important not only to UTA, but to the greater community, and we thank HF Controls for its investment.”

HF Controls is a global leader in providing advanced instrumentation and control (I&C) systems for the energy, industrial and nuclear sectors. With extensive expertise in engineering, manufacturing and testing, HF Controls specializes in delivering innovative solutions, including nuclear safety and non-safety I&C systems, digital control platforms and high-performance engineering tools. The company’s commitment to excellence ensures that it meets the highest standards in quality, safety and reliability, with certifications from leading regulatory bodies such as the NRC and TÜV SIL-3.

“HF Controls is honored to support the innovative research and academic excellence at The University of Texas at Arlington,” the company said in a statement. “This collaboration underscores our dedication to advancing engineering and technology that shapes the future of the energy and industrial sectors.”

— Written by Jeremy Agor, College of Engineering