Francesco Borrelli

Timeline

1. 1998–2002

   Engineering degrees in Naples and Zurich

   He earns a Laurea in computer science engineering at the University of Naples Federico II in 1998. In 2002, he receives a PhD from ETH Zurich's Automatic Control Laboratory.

2. 2008

   Moving to Berkeley

   He accepts a position at UC Berkeley in 2008. Before the Berkeley move, he works in the University of Minnesota's Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics with Honeywell support, developing vehicle traction, braking, torque and steering controls with Ford.

3. 2009–2012

   OnRAMP and control awards

   In 2009, he receives an NSF CAREER Award. In 2012, he shares the IEEE Control Systems Technology Award with the team behind Honeywell's OnRAMP Design Suite for Powertrain Control, which helps manufacturers develop engine-control software for cars and trucks.

4. By October 2014

   ITS affiliated faculty

   By October 2014, he is an affiliated faculty member of Berkeley's Institute of Transportation Studies while serving as an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. His research group studies active safety and self-driving cars, including vehicle dynamics in unsafe conditions and interaction between drivers and automated systems.

5. 2016

   BrightBox acquisition and IEEE fellowship

   Flex acquires BrightBox Technologies in 2016; Borrelli is its founder and chief technology officer, developing cloud-computing optimization for autonomous systems. In 2016, he is elected an IEEE Fellow.

6. 2017

   A predictive control textbook

   In 2017, he coauthors Predictive Control for Linear and Hybrid Systems with Alberto Bemporad and Manfred Morari. The book covers control algorithms and their stability, feasibility and robustness, with attention to implementation in real time. He also receives the International Federation of Automatic Control's Industrial Achievement Award in 2017.

7. 2019

   Learning to race autonomously

   With Ugo Rosolia, he coauthors Learning How to Autonomously Race a Car: a Predictive Control Approach in 2019. Their controller uses data from completed laps to update its decisions; they test the approach on the Berkeley Autonomous Race Car platform.

8. 2025

   Control practice and robotics awards

   In 2025, he receives the American Automatic Control Council's Babatunde A. Ogunnaike Control Practice Award for contributions to predictive control in automotive powertrains, solar energy and public transportation. He also receives the ISSNAF Innovator TEF Award for STEM Entrepreneur in Robotics in 2025.

9. 2025

   AI and robotics at Nextracker

   He becomes chief AI and robotics officer at Nextracker in 2025. He leads its global AI and robotics strategy and oversees the integration of AI, machine learning and robotics into the company's products.

10. As of October 2026

    Berkeley professor and AI officer

    As of October 2026, he is Professor of Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley, holds the FANUC Chair in Mechanical Systems, and serves as vice chair of the Master of Engineering program. He leads the Model Predictive Control Lab and studies model-based AI for automated driving and robotics. At Nextpower, he is chief AI and robotics officer, leading the design and deployment of autonomous control systems and robotics for solar power plants.