Igor V. Petukhov
Research Leadership

Igor V. Petukhov

Founder & Group Lead
Professor · Doctor of Engineering Sciences
Volga State University of Technology

Research leader in intelligent human–machine systems, artificial intelligence, robotics and navigation, simulator-based operator training, Human–AI interaction and model-based decision support.

260+scientific worksResearch output
49WoS / Scopus-indexed worksIndexed output
14Google Scholar h-indexScholar · Oct 2026
8Scopus h-indexScopus
5PhD students supervisedResearch supervision
70+patents, software certificates & other IPResearch artifacts
Research Programme

Human–machine intelligence as a system-level problem

The programme connects operator performance, simulator-based training, intelligent navigation, autonomous and robotic systems, digital twins, decision support and Human–AI evaluation. The common focus is how people, AI models and technical systems jointly perceive, decide and act under uncertainty.

Funded Research & Current Projects

Active research lines

Russian Science Foundation · Principal Investigator

Operator Performance & Intelligent Support

RSF No. 23-19-00568-П. Human–machine operator performance, psychophysiological predictors, simulator training and intelligent support for ergatic systems.

46 UAV operators138 planned attemptsVideo + psychophysiology
Navigation & Robotics

Forest Navigation under GNSS Uncertainty

Hybrid mapping, local geometric constraints and navigation-oriented environmental models for mobile and robotic systems operating with unreliable positioning.

Springer LNCSField experimentsGNSS-degraded navigation
Human–AI

LLM Evaluation & Human Validation

Methods for evaluating LLM-assisted reasoning and decision support, including Minimum Sufficient Prompting, human validation and planned neurophysiological studies.

360 responsesHuman auditEEG line
Model-Based Intelligence

Digital-Twin-Assisted Operator Support

Engineering and kinematic models used as an intelligent layer for prediction, motion coordination and operator support in complex technical systems.

Digital twinsForestry manipulatorDecision support
Research in Practice

From field navigation to VR, EEG and embodied interfaces

The research programme combines real-world field work with controlled human–machine experiments and physiological measurement.

Field research with UAV systems in forest environment
Field navigation & UAV systemsApplied work on mapping, positioning and autonomous-system operation in forest environments.
VR-based operator research
VR & operator experimentsImmersive experimental environments for human performance and simulator-training studies.
EEG analysis
EEG & human-state analysisNeurophysiological signals, cognitive-state assessment and data-driven interpretation.
Selected Publications

Recent and representative work

Effects of Simulator Training Duration on Early-Stage Control Performance of Mobile Vehicle Platforms Petukhov I., Steshina L., Velev D., Zlateva P. · ICR 2026 · Springer LNCS 16791 · Best Paper Award · DOI 10.1007/978-3-032-34384-0_8
Hybrid Forest Mapping for Robotic Navigation Under GNSS Uncertainty Steshina L., Petukhov I., Galkin D., Grigorev I. · ICR 2026 · Springer LNCS 16790 · DOI 10.1007/978-3-032-34387-1_33
Review of Remote Sensing Data Processing Pipelines for Individual Tree Detection and Species Classification Steshin I., Steshina L., Grigorev I., Dedov A., Petukhov I. · Forests 17(10), 1134, 2026 · DOI 10.3390/f17101134
A Model-Based Kinematic Layer for Digital-Twin-Assisted Motion Coordination of a Forestry Hydraulic Manipulator Petukhov I., Bogdanov E. · Journal of Applied Engineering Science, 24(3), 594–603, 2026 · DOI 10.5937/jaes0-68030
Human-AI Interaction in Intelligent Control Systems: An Information Model Petukhov I., Steshina L., Bogdanov E. · RusAutoCon 2026, pp. 480–485.
Being present in a real or virtual world: A EEG study Petukhov I. et al. · International Journal of Medical Informatics, 136, 103977, 2020 · DOI 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2019.103977
Team & Supervision

Building a reproducible research programme

5 PhD students currently supervised

CoHMI is designed as a team-based research programme rather than a personal publication portfolio. Current work connects senior researchers, doctoral researchers, early-career researchers and undergraduate research.

View CoHMI Research Team →
Academic Service & International Standing

External academic roles

Academic Service

  • Technical Program Committee Member and reviewer, ICBEB 2026.
  • Session Chair, Oral Session 4: Service Robots, ICR 2026.
  • Reviewer for Technology in Society, Cognition, Technology & Work, Discover Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence and Applications and other international venues.
  • External expert for research projects, grant applications and academic evaluation.

International Collaboration

  • University of National and World Economy, Bulgaria — long-term collaboration with Dimiter Velev and Plamena Zlateva.
  • Vellore Institute of Technology, India — joint publications and international grant-application experience with Sivakumar Rajagopal.
  • Joint work spans VR, simulator training, GenAI, smart forestry and interdisciplinary AI applications.
Research & Institution Building

Selected leadership cases

These cases are included as evidence of the ability to build research and education systems around a scientific or technological agenda.

Research Ecosystem

Consortium “LES”

Initiated and developed an inter-university ecosystem around digital transformation of the forest sector, with Volgatech as coordinating organization and a network that grew to 27 participants.

AI & Talent Development

AI → TOP IT → “CIFRA”

A sequence of competitive federal initiatives linking AI education, scientific supervision, industry participation and the launch of a dedicated TOP IT center.

Center “CIFRA” ↗

Crisis & Digital Transformation

University-wide transition during COVID-19

Led the transition of 127 educational programmes to remote delivery, supporting approximately 7,500 full-time HE/VET students and around 650 teachers, alongside development of the university information environment and electronic document workflows.

Institution Building

Research, engineering & workforce infrastructure

Selected initiatives include TOP AI projects, the Military Training Center for the Aerospace Forces, University Lyceum, Professionalitet, student design bureau, shared research facilities and industry-linked base departments.

Profiles

Academic identifiers

Scopus

Author ID: 23052012800 · h-index 8

ResearcherID

A-9472-2014