October 30 seminar: Manel Martinez Ramon

October 30, 2026

Digital Twins: From State Estimation to Decision Support

Manel Martinez Ramon,UNM

3:00 pm, UNM Centennial Engineering Center, Room 1026
Online Guests: Contact bidram@unm.edu for a Zoom link

Abstract: Digital twins are a powerful tool for connecting for connecting physical systems with computational models, real-time data, and artificial intelligence. Unlike static simulations, a digital twin is a continuously updated representation of a specific physical system that can be used to estimate its current state, predict its future behavior, and support decisions. This talk introduces the fundamental concepts and architecture of digital twins from a systems and machine-learning perspective. We will develop a probabilistic formulation based on latent-state estimation, measurement models, transition models, and uncertainty, and discuss how physics-based models, machine learning, and physics-informed neural networks can be combined to construct predictive digital twins. A drone battery-management example will illustrate how these ideas translate from mathematical models to practical estimation, prediction, and mission-level decision support. The talk will then explore agentic digital twins, in which AI agents coordinate models, simulators, optimization methods, anomaly detectors, and technical knowledge to evaluate possible actions and provide transparent, uncertainty-aware recommendations while preserving human authority over critical decisions. We will conclude with research opportunities in aerospace, autonomous systems, embedded computing, health monitoring, physics-informed learning, and AI-assisted decision support.

Bio: Dr. Manel Martinez-Ramon is the King Felipe VI Endowed Chair, Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UNM. Before UNM, he served as an associate professor at the Universidad de Alcalá, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena and Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. During the last 15 years, he has taught nearly 30 different graduate and undergraduate courses in Electronics, Electric Networks, Electromagnetics, Signal Processing, Telecommunications or Data Processing. Since 2004 he exclusively taught in English in bi-lingual engineering degree programs in Spain. Dr. Martínez-Ramón has served the Spanish university as associate provost for infra- structures and environment, associate dean of the Politecnic School (school of engineering) of Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, director of teaching management, and director of several degrees in telecommunications engineering. His research interests are in Machine Learning, where he has collaborated in numerous founded research projects in applications to signal processing, multimedia and speech processing, theory of decision and estimation, neuroimaging, and others. His over 70 peer-reviewed communications and journal papers are related to applications of Machine Learning to these areas of engineering. His current research is related to cognitive radio, smart grid, and neuroimaging. In 2003-2004, he did a post-doc in applications of Machine Learning to neuroimaging at the MIND Institute, UNM. Since then, he has actively collaborated with members of UNM faculty. He has participated as co-chair of several conference sessions and workshops.