Mihai Hulea
Associate Professor at the Department of Automation, Faculty of Automation and Computer Science, within the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (UTCN). Research and teaching in Software Systems Engineering, Distributed Control Systems, Real-time Systems, IoT Device Integration, Blockchain Technology, and AI/ML for Industrial Applications.
Professional Activity
Since 2002, Dr. Mihai Hulea has been part of the academic staff at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca. His professional experience includes developing laboratory infrastructure, designing course materials, and coordinating research projects in collaboration with national and international institutions.
He has served as principal investigator or collaborator in research grants funded by UEFISCDI, Horizon Europe, and industrial partners, and has published papers in IEEE and Elsevier journals and conferences.
Since 2001, he has also worked as an IT consultant for various private companies in Romania and abroad, with projects ranging from commercial to research-oriented. His expertise includes programming, system architecture design, team coordination, IoT device integrations, AI/ML techniques for industrial problems, and complex system integration.
He coordinates Bachelor's and Master's theses, and contributes to both educational innovation and research projects developed in collaboration with academic and industrial partners.
Research Expertise
The research activity focuses on the design and implementation of intelligent embedded systems, distributed control systems, blockchain technology for industrial applications, and distributed architectures for real-time data acquisition and control.
Blockchain Technology and Digital Product Passports
Implementation of distributed ledger systems for supply chain transparency, product lifecycle management, and circular economy frameworks.
Smart Cities and Mobility-as-a-Service
Integration of blockchain technology into urban transportation systems, multi-modal transportation optimization, and intelligent traffic control.
Distributed Control Systems
Design of distributed control architectures for industrial applications, including traffic systems, and process control.
IoT Device Integration and Embedded Systems
Ultra-low power Wi-Fi embedded systems, sensor fusion, and IoT device integration for industrial and environmental monitoring.
AI/ML for Industrial Applications
Application of artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to industrial problem solving, including anomaly detection and predictive maintenance.
Cloud Computing and Complex System Integration
System Architecture Design and Complex System Integration. Cloud Computing and Edge Computing Architectures. Industrial Automation and Process Control.
Research & Development
Results of the research are published in international journals (Smart Cities, Algorithms, Applied Sciences) and conferences (IEEE AQTR, ICIE, ICSTCC, IECON), and disseminated through collaborative workshops and student projects.
Digital Product Passports
Development of multi-blockchain approaches with decentralized identifier providers for product lifecycle management and circular economy applications. Published in Applied Sciences (2024) and presented at ICIE 2024.
Mobility-as-a-Service Platforms
Integration of blockchain technology into smart city transportation systems, with graph-oriented database approaches for multi-modal transportation optimization. Published in Smart Cities (2025) and presented at IEEE AQTR 2024.
University Courses at UTCN
Dr. Mihai Hulea teaches and has taught courses covering the fields of software systems engineering, distributed control systems, real-time systems, and evolutive systems. His teaching activities include lecturing and laboratory sessions for undergraduate and master's students, as well as coordination of Bachelor's and Master's theses.
Current Teaching Focus
- Software Engineering — Software Engineering principles and practices to undergraduate students. Software development methodologies, design patterns, and practical implementation techniques.
- Real-time Systems — Fundamentals of real-time systems, including scheduling algorithms, resource management, and performance optimization techniques.
Previously Taught Courses
- Distributed Control Systems — Principles and implementation of distributed control systems, focusing on industrial applications and real-time processing.
- Project Management — Project management methodologies and tools, focusing on software development projects and team coordination.
- Evolutive Systems — Principles of evolutive systems, focusing on genetic programming.
Mentorship and Supervision
Coordination of undergraduate and master's students
Supervision of Bachelor's and Master's theses
Contributor to curriculum development and modernization initiatives
Academic Background
Ph.D. in Automatic Systems
Technical University of Cluj-Napoca
M.Sc. in Systems Engineering
Technical University of Cluj-Napoca
B.Sc. in Engineering
Technical University of Cluj-Napoca
Contact
Department of Automation, Faculty of Automation and Computer Science, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (UTCN)
Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (UTCN)Department of Automation
Faculty of Automation and Computer Science
Str. Observatorului Nr. 2
400352 Cluj-Napoca, Romania