Alejandro Secades Rodriguez, BSc MSc

Doctoral Student +43 512 2070 - 4127 alejandro.secades@mci.edu

Alejandro Secades Rodríguez was born in Llangréu, Asturies, Spain in 1990. He received the Degree in Aerospace Engineering in 2014 from the university Alfonso X el Sabio, Spain and the Master in Mechatronics & Smart Technologies at the Management Center Innsbruck, Austria in 2017. From 2016 to 2024, he worked as a project developer in the Mechatronics Department at MCI. Since 2024, he has been a member of the Industrial Engineering Department at MCI and has begun a doctoral program within the Geotechnical Engineering department at the University of Innsbruck. He is specialized in a variety of topics with special focus on CFD, Aerodynamics, Advanced CAD Design, Multiphysical Systems and Control Engineering.

Professional work experience

02/2024 - present
Doctoral Student & Project Employee - Management Center Innsbruck, Industrial Engineering Department
Focus lies on the characterisation of off-road heavy-duty vehicles dynamic interaction with the ground, using analytical, semiempirical and DE methods, and their integration with the previously developed tools, representing the vehicles' powertrains. This is an extention of the previously realised project, and is being carried out through the University of Innsbruck. In addition, parallel duties involve the modelling of heat transfer & refrigeration systems in the industry in order to assess and implement energy optimization processes.
06/2019 - 01/2024
Project Researcher - Management Center Innsbruck, Mechatronics Department
Modelling and characterisation of off-road heavy-duty vehicles within the scope of a cooperation project - Digital Twin - with two regional and international companies of the sector. Development of virtual solutions representing their products drivetrains and their integration together with the companies' development processes.
05/2016 - 05/2019
Project Employee - Partial Employment - Management Center Innsbruck, Mechatronics Department
Working on a distinct variety of projects. Special focus on development of simulation tools and models for multiphysics systems, such as hydraulics, electrical, mechanical, aerodynamical. Furthermore, involved in the design of mechanical constructs using Advanced CAD design tools (CATIA).
05/2015 - 09/2015
Project Assistant & Software Developer (Internship) - ZITRON
Software developer for custom-made ventilation systems for underground mines, road and railway tunnels, and metro systems.
01/2014 - 07/2014
Design Assistant (Internship) - MOSCAT Ingeniería y Consultoría (Engineering and Consultant's Office)
Development of simulation models and structures related to Aerovehicles of relative small size (UAVs) in cooperation with the spanish Institute of Aerospace Technics (INTA). In addition, focus on the aerodynamic, mechanical design and performance of its propellers.
01/2006 - 06/2008
Football Manager - Colegio Santo Tomás de Aquino (High, secondary and primary school education institution)
Manager of the institution football teams for under 11 years-old groups.

Education

04/2024 - present
Doctoral Programme in Engineering Sciences - University of Innsbruck
Doctoral Studies
10/2015 - 11/2017
Master of Sciences in Engineering, Mechatronics and Smart Technologies. Major in Mechanical Engineering - Management Center Innsbruck, Mechatronics Department
Control Engineering, Robotics, Mechanical Construction and Design, Software Focus on CFD, CAD and Structural Analysis Software
09/2010 - 09/2014
Degree of Aerospace Engineering (GIA) - Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio
Strong focus on Mathematics and Physics, Aerovehicles Structures, Fluid Mechanics, Flight Mechanics. Specialization in Aerospace Propulsion
09/2008 - 11/2010
Superior Technical Aeronautic Engineering (Switched to GIA) - Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Practical expertise with Aerospace Vehicles, Higher Mathematics and Mechanics and Thermodynamics.

Teaching (faculty internships etc.)

09/2023 - 10/2024
Management Center Innsbruck, Department of Industrial Engineering
Supervised Bachelor Thesis: Verarbeitung und Berechnung des veränderten Volumens von Punktwolken aus Planierraupenstreifen
05/2023 - 05/2023
Management Center Innsbruck
Digital Twins im Energy management (ILV)
09/2022 - 03/2024
Management Center Innsbruck, Mechatronics Department. Master Mechatronics
Multibody and Multiphysical Simulation
11/2021 - 02/2022
Management Center Innsbruck, Mechatronics Department. Master Mechatronics
Control Engineering Laboratory
03/2020 - 02/2024
Management Center Innsbruck, Mechatronics Department. Master Mechatronics
Projekt I & II
11/2019 - 02/2020
Management Center Innsbruck, Mechatronics Department. Master Mechatronics
Control Engineering Laboratory

Competitive Research Award

11/2018 - 11/2018
Mechatronik Plattform Österrreich
First place in the category of best Master thesis: Simulation of Active Vibration Damping of a Wind Turbine. Topic revolving around the possibility to improve the lifespan of a Wind Turbine by means of actively modifying its pitch angles. Simulated model designed as a coupled system between MATLAB Simulink control structure and a CFD Turbine model.

Further education & Training

2024 - 2024
University of Innsbruck
Numerical Modelling in Geotechnical Engineering 2024
2015 - 2015
British Council
IELTS Test
2015 - 2015
Cadtech-Formación
2014 - 2015
International House Madrid Language School
Advanced English

Peer reviewed academic/professional meeting proceedings

Alejandro Secades, Wolfgang Fellin, Manuel Ferdik: "A semi-empirical dynamic ground interaction model for the forces of excavator blades", Proceedings of the 8th International Young Geotechnical Engineers Conference, Graz, 2026.
Secades Rodríguez, A, Volmer, J., Bagnara, D. (2022). Simulation of Heavy-Duty Vehicles for the Use in Digital Twins. In: Matt, D.T., Vidoni, R., Rauch, E., Dallasega, P. (eds) Managing and Implementing the Digital Transformation. ISIEA 2022. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 525. Springer.
Schiestl, M.; Marcolini, F.; Incurvati, M.; Capponi, F. G.; Starz, R.; Caricchi, F.; Secades Rodríguez, A. & Wild, L. "Development of a High Power Density Drive System for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles". IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics. 2020.

Presentation of a paper at a conference, workshop or seminar

Secades, Alejandro ; Fellin, Wolfgang ; Ferdik, Manuel: 'A semi-empirical dynamic ground interaction model for the forces of excavator blades', Proceedings of the 8th International Young Geotechnical Engineers Conference, Graz, 11-14.06.2026.
Secades, A.; Fellin, W.; Ferdik, M. "Ground Interaction Approaches for Heavy-Duty Vehicles" 25. GeoDACH-Treffen 2026. Doctoral Students Seminar.
Secades, A.; Fellin, W.; Ferdik, M. "A Semi-Empirical Ground Interaction Tool for Tracked Heavy Duty Vehicles". ISIEA 2025. 4th Internation Symposium on Industrial Engineering and Automation
Secades Rodríguez, A. (2024) Powertrain Modeling in Heavy-Duty Vehicles https://www.mathworks.com/videos/powertrain-modeling-in-heavy-duty-vehicles-1730977838294.html
Secades, A. "Model Based Engineering – Simulationsbasierte Entwicklung von Arbeitsmaschinen". 15.05.20023. Workshop Modellbasierte Entwicklung - MathWorks am Zentrum für Produktion, Robotik & Automatisierung
Secades Rodríguez, A.; Bagnara, D & Volmer, J. (2021). On the Digital Representation of Heavy-Duty Vehicles. A Case Study and Outlook. In Inn4mech 2021 Conference. Theme: Off-Highway Machine Revolution.
1. Platz in der Kategorie "Beste Masterarbeit". "Simulation of Active Vibration Damping of a Wind Turbine" (2018) Secades Rodríguez, A.

Supervised bachelor theses

Leitner Peter (2024): Verarbeitung und Berechnung des gestörten Volumens von Punktwolken aus Planierraupenstreifen