Education

  • Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008
  • M.S., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2005
  • B.S., Walla Walla University, 2002

Background

After receiving his Ph.D. in 2008, Dr. Khalid Sorensen co-founded a technology company, developing and deploying leading mechatronic, motion control, and automation solutions within the primary metals, automotive, and heavy-equipment industries. His industry-recognized technologies were key drivers in the acquisition of his company in 2013 by a global leader in automation. 
Dr. Sorensen later served as CTO at PaR Systems, a world-class supplier of large-scale robotic automation, control, advanced manufacturing, and nuclear-handling solutions.
In 2020, Dr. Sorensen founded Finity Engineering (FE), and presently serves as CTO. FE provides design, analysis, consulting, and litigation support services in the areas of robotics, automation, mechatronics, and consumer products.

 

Distinctions & Awards

  • Effective Teacher Commendation (2017, 2020, 2024)
  • Named One of 125 SAU Alumni Who Made a Difference in the World (2017)
  • Control Engineering Practice 2nd Most Cited Between 2007 – 2012 
  • ARCS Foundation Scholar (2007)
  • IEEE Conference on Industrial Electronics & Applications. Best Paper Finalist (2007)
  • NSF Student & Teacher Enhancement Partnership Fellow (2006)
  • IFAC Best Application Paper (2005)
  • USAA National Collegiate Engineering Award (2002)

Selected Publications

  • K. L. Sorensen, W. E. Singhose, and S. Dickerson, “A Controller Enabling Precise Positioning and Sway Reduction in Bridge and Gantry Cranes,” Control Engineering Practice, vol. 15, pp. 825-837, 2007.
  • K. L. Sorensen and W. E. Singhose, “Command-Induced Vibration Analysis Using Input Shaping Principles,” Automatica, vol. 44, pp. 2392-97, 2008.
  • K. L. Sorensen, A. Daftari, W. E. Singhose, and K. Hekman, “Negative Input Shaping: Eliminating Overcurrenting & Maximizing the Command Space,” ASME Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement, and Control, vol. 130, pp. 0610121-27, 2008.
  • K. Sorensen, W. Singhose, “Wheeled Inverted Pendulum Control and Slip Dynamics,” Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Control and Automation, Anchorage, AK, USA, 2018.
  • K. L. Sorensen, R. Schmidt, A. Jenkins, C. Lyman, W. Singhose, F. Schlagenhauf, K. Dobson, “Eletromagnetic Model of Linear Resonant Actuators,” ASME Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement, and Control, vol. 145, pp. 0510031-39, 2023.

Patents

  • Combined Feedback and Command Shaping Controller for Multistate Control with Application to Improving Positioning and Reducing Cable Sway in Cranes, U.S. Patent 7,970,521, with W. Singhose, and S. Dickerson.  2011.
  • Crane Motion Control, U.S. Patent 9,776,838, with W. Singhose. 2017. 
  • Systems and Methods for Customizing a Haptic Output of a Haptic Actuator of a User Device, U.S. Patent 12,124,632, with K. Dobson, F. Lagenhauf, W. Singhose, N. Sinatra. 2024