The Grainger College of Engineering
Mechanical Science & Engineering

Richard E. Klein

Richard E. Klein
Richard E. Klein
Associate Professor Emeritus

Education

  • PhD, Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 1969
  • MS, Mechanical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 1965
  • BS, Mechanical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 1964

Academic Positions

  • Associate Professor Emeritus, Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 1998 - present
  • Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 1971-1998
  • Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 1968-1971

Other Professional Employment

  • President and Founder, Rainbow Trainers, Inc., 1999-present

Major Consulting Activities

  • Expert witness, various law firms
  • Bridgestone Cycle (USA), Inc.
  • Universal Engineering Corporation
  • Corning Glass Works
  • Hughes Aircraft Company
  • LFE Corporation
  • National Can Corporation
  • Proctor & Gamble
  • Caterpillar Tractor Company

Books Authored or Co-Authored (Original Editions)

  • Bikes Are Big on Planet Klynia (A Children's Book)
  • Denmark to Dakota: The Story of A Danish American Immigrant Family
  • Enlightenment & Resolve: Musings from Selected Journal Entries
  • Second Dissertation Upon Roast Pig: Practicalities and Philosophies for the 21st Century
  • Shivering: Heating Up the Global Warming Debate (2nd Edition)
  • Circling the Drain: Humorous Musings on Becoming a Mechanical Engineer
  • Dear Valerie: Letters of Wisdom & Philosophy from Father to Daughter
  • Dumb Dickie: A Memoir of Learning, Growth, Hope, and Blunders
  • Danish Dinner Party: Traditions and Recipes
  • Kisses When I Get Home: Letters of a Long-Distance Courtship During World War II
  • The Bike Whisperer: Changing the World One Bike Rider at a Time
  • We’re All Set: Selected Klein Family Memories

Selected Articles in Journals

  • Klein, R.E., "Build It Wrong, But Build It-A Bicycle Trek" Symposium on the Dynamics and Control of Single Track Vehicles, 20-22 October 2010, Delft, The Netherlands.
  • Burt, T., D. Poretta, and R. Klein, "Use of adapted bicycles on the learning of conventional cycling by children with mental retardation," Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities, September, 2007.
  • Astrom, K. J., R. E. Klein, and A. Lennartsson, "Bicycle Dynamics and Control," IEEE Control Systems Magazine, Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEE), August 2005.
  • Klein, R. E., E. McHugh, S. L. Harrington, T. Davis, and L. J. Lieberman, "Adapted Bicycles for Teaching Riding Skills," Teaching Exceptional Children, Vol. 36, no. 7, July 2005.
  • Klein, R. E., "Lose the Training Wheels – An Adapted Bicycling Program," Presentation to 13th Annual Visiting Professor Program, Children's Memorial Medical Center, Motion Analysis Center, Chicago IL, November 19, 2004.
  • Klein, R., L. J. Lieberman, "An Innovative Adapted Bicycling Instructional Methodology – Theory and Results," Presentation to NYS AHPERD, Callicoon NY, November 2002.
  • Klein, R., L. J. Lieberman, P. DiRocco, and E. McHugh, "Adapted Bicycles: Adapted Bikes Deliver New Independence," Exceptional Parent Magazine, October 2002, pp. 64-66.
  • DiRocco, P., R. Klein, E. McHugh, L. Lieberman, and T. Burt, "Adapted Bicycling Instruction: Experiences, Benefits, Challenges, and Prospects – A Panel Discussion," NAFAPA Symposium, Oregon State University, Corvallis, September 26-28, 2002.
  • Klein, R., E. McHugh, "Becoming ‘Normal’: Application of Dynamic Systems Theory to Riding a Bicycle," Presentation at National Consortium for Physical Education and Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities, Arlington VA, July 13-15, 2002.
  • DiRocco, P., R. Klein, "Adapted Bicycling and Dynamical Systems," International Adapted Physical Education Symposium, Vienna, July 2001.
  • DiRocco, P., R. Klein, The UW-L Bike Camp: A Bicycling Camp for Exceptional Children, California Adapted Physical Education and Dance Conference, Fresno CA, October 2000.
  • Klein, R., P. DiRocco, B. Oberweiser, M. Mallett, R. Heath, "Adapted Bicycling Taught Using a Camp Format," California Adapted Physical Education Symposium, San Diego CA, October 1999.
  • Klein, R., "As Easy As Riding a Bike," Presentation to NAFAPA (North American Federation of Adapted Physical Activity), Minneapolis, Sept. 1998.
  • Klein, R., "As Easy As Riding a Bike," Presentation to NAFAPA (North American Federation of Adapted Physical Activity), Minneapolis, Sept. 1998.
  • Klein, R., "Afterthoughts of a Found(er)ing Structural Controls Theorist," Symposium on Smart Structures and Control, San Diego CA, March 1998.
  • Gurley, K., A. Kareem, L. A. Bergman, E. A. Johnson, and R. E. Klein, "Coupling Tall Buildings for Control of Response to Wind," Proc. ICOSSAR '93, Innsbruck, Austria, Aug. 9-13, 1993.
  • Klein, R., “How Children Learn to Ride,” The Rivendell Reader, Issue 3, Volume 1, 1993, p. 15.
  • Klein, R. E., "The University of Illinois Bicycle Project," Proceedings of Advances in Control Education, International Federation of Automatic Control, Boston MA, June 1991.
  • Klein, R. E., "The Bicycle Project Approach—A Vehicle to Relevancy and Motivation," Proceedings of the IEEE/ASEE Frontiers in Education Conference, W. Lafayette IN, 47-52, Sept. 21-24, 1991.
  • Klein, R. E., "Teaching Linear Systems Theory Using Cramer's Rule," IEEE Transactions on Education, 33:3, 258-267, 1990.
  • Klein, R. E., "Simulation of Bicycle Dynamics: An Opportunity in Dynamic Systems Education," Proceedings of the Simulation in Engineering Education, 1990 Western Multiconference, San Diego CA, Jan. 17-19, 1990.
  • Klein, R. E. and C. J. Miller, "Matrix Polynomial Triangularization for Efficient Simulation of LTI Systems," Proceedings of the European Multiconference, Nuremberg, June 10-13, 1990.
  • Klein, R. E., "Simulated Dynamics of Bicycles with Various Forms of Experimental Verification," Proceedings of the Summer Computer Simulation Conference, University of Texas at Austin, 805-810, July 26-29, 1989.
  • Klein, R. E., "Using Bicycles to Teach System Dynamics," Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Control Systems Magazine, 9:3, 4-8, 1989.
  • Klein, R. E., "Simulated Dynamics of Bicycles with Various Forms of Experimental Verification," Proceedings of the Summer Computer Simulation Conference, University of Texas at Austin, 805-810, July 26-29, 1989.
  • Klein, R. E., "Novel Systems and Dynamics Teaching Techniques Using Bicycles," Proceedings of the 1988 American Control Conference, Atlanta GA, 1157-1160, June 15-17, 1988.
  • Klein, R. E. and M. D. Healey, "Semi-Active Control of Wind Induced Oscillations in Structures," presented at the Second International Symposium on Structural Control, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, July 15-17, 1985; reprinted in Structural Control, H. H. E. Leipholz, Editor, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Boston MA, 354-369, 1987.
  • Klein, R. E. and H. Salhi, "The Time-Optimal Control of Wind Induced Structural Vibrations using Active Appendages," Proceedings of the International IUTAM Symposium on Structural Control, Ontario, Canada, June 4-7, 1979, North-Holland Pub. Co., Amsterdam, 415-429, 1980.
  • Klein, R. E., "The Potential for Application of Closed-Loop Control Concepts in Structures," Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Spring Convention, Session EM-3, Boston MA, April 1979.
  • Klein, R. E. and H. Sehitoglu, "An Application of Equation Error Identification Techniques to the Problem of Vehicular Drag Parameter Determination," Proceedings of the 29th Vehicular Technical Conference, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Chicago IL, March 1979.
  • Sehitoglu, H. and R. E. Klein, "A Finite Element and Gradient Method for Identification of Parameters in a Class of Distributed Parameter Systems," American Society of Mechanical Engineers, WAM, No. 78-WA/DSC-29, Dec. 1978.
  • Klein, R. E. and H. Sehitoglu, "Some Results on the Identification of Parameters in Distributed Processes described by the One- Dimensional Wave Equation," Proceedings of the 1978 JACC, Instrument Society of America, III, 133-143, Oct. 1978.
  • Klein, R. E. and R. D. Scholl, "Stability Analysis of an Articulated Vehicle Steering System," Society of Automotive Engineers, EMIC, Peoria, IL, Paper 710527, April 1971; also presented at The Mobile Hydraulics Design Symposium, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Aug. 1978.
  • Klein, R. E. and H. Salhi, "Optimal Vibration Control in Structures," Proceedings of the 3rd US National Conference on Wind Engineering Research, Gainesville FL, Feb. 27-March 1, 1978.
  • Klein, R. E., "Methods for Vibrational Energy Dissipation," Proceedings of the 3rd US National Conference on Wind Engineering Research, Gainesville FL, Feb. 27-March 1, 1978.
  • Klein, R. E., "The Analysis of Total Energy and Labor for Industrial Plants," Proceedings of the International Conference on Energy Use Management, Tuscon AZ, I, 75-79, Oct. 1977.
  • Klein, R. E., "Remarks on the Case Method of Teaching," Proceedings of The Control and Decision Conference, Clearwater FL, Dec. 1976.
  • Sehitoglu, H. and R. E. Klein, "An Identification Technique for Multivalued and Memory Nonlinearities in Dynamic Processes," Simulation, Sept. 1975.
  • Klein, R. E., "Identification of Multivalued Parameters in a Class of Noisy Nonlinear Dynamic Processes," Proceedings of 3rd International Federation of Automatic Controls, Symposium on Identification and System Parameter Estimation, The Hague, The Netherlands, 1973.
  • Cannon, J. R. and R. E. Klein, "On the Observability and Stability of a Temperature Distribution in a Composite Heat Conductor," Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, Journal on Applied Mathematics, Vol. 24, June 1973.
  • Metz, L. D. and R. E. Klein, Man and the Technological Society, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs NJ, April 1973.
  • Metz, L. D. and R. E. Klein, "Towards a General Theory of Climate Behavior Based on the Viewpoint of Systems Theory," Proceedings of the 1972 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Conference on Decision and Control, New Orleans LA, Dec. 1972.
  • Klein, R. E., C. Cusano, and J. J. Stukel, "Investigation of a Method to Stabilize Wind Induced Oscillations in Large Structures," American Society of Mechanical Engineers 1972 Winter Annual Meeting, Automatic Control Division, Paper No. 72-WA/AUT-11, 1972.
  • Klein, R. E., "A Technique for Parameter Identification in a Class of Hyperbolic Distributed Processes," Proceedings of the 10th Annual Allerton Conference on Circuit and System Theory, Allerton House, University of Illinois, Oct. 1972.
  • Klein, R. E., V. P. Crome, W. R. Heitschmidt, and C. M. Zinn, "The Greenhouse Effect, Ice Ages, and Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Revisited via Simulation and Nonlinear Feedback System Theory," Proceedings of the Summer Simulation Conference, San Diego, CA, 904-909, June 1972.
  • Cannon, J. R. and R. E. Klein, "Optimal Selection of Measurement Locations for Approximate Determination of Temperature Distributions," American Society of Mechanical Engineers Transactions, Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement, and Control, 193-199, Sept. 1971.
  • Klein, R. E. and R. O. Hughes, "The Distributed Parameter Control of Torsional Bending in Seagoing Ships," Preprint Volume of the 1971 JACC, St. Louis MO, 867-875, Aug. 1971.
  • Klein, R. E., "Discussion on a Design Procedure for a Class of Distributed Parameter Control Systems," Transactions of American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Series G, 93:2, 92-93, June 1971.
  • Klein, R. E., "Non Well Posed Problems in the Sense of Hadamard and their Relationship to Distributed Parameter State Reconstructor Problems," Proceedings of International Federation of Automatic Controls, Symposium on the Control of Distributed Parameter Systems, Banff, Alberta, Canada, Paper No. 7-2, 21-23 June 21-23, 1971.
  • Klein, R. E. and R. D. Scholl, "Design and Simulation of a Steering System for an Articulated Earth Moving Vehicle," Midwestern Simulation Council Symposium, Caterpillar Tractor Co., Peoria IL, May 3, 1971.
  • Klein, R. E., M. Vidyasagar, and R. E. Goodson, "Comments on a Definition and Some Results for Distributed System Observability," Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Transactions on Automatic Control, AC-16:1, 106, Feb. 1971.
  • Klein, R. E., "A Derivative Extremal Adaptive Controller with Applications to Rotating Power Systems," Proceedings of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 1970 Symposium on Adaptive Processes, VIII-2, Austin TX, Dec. 1970.
  • Klein, R. E., "Remarks on Observability and Its Application to Non- Linear and Distributed Parameter Systems," American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Winter Annual Meeting, Paper 70-WA-AUT-l0, 1970.
  • Goodson, R. E. and R. E. Klein, "A Definition and Some Results for Distributed System Observability," Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Transactions on Automatic Control, AC-15:2, 165-174, April 1970.
  • Klein, R. E., "Observability: Its Role in Control and Estimation Theory," Proceedings of the 7th Annual Allerton Conference on Circuit and System Theory, Allerton House, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 23-31, Oct. 8-10, 1969.

Other Scholarly Activities

  • Co-inventor of "A Steering System for Articulated Vehicles," U.S. Patent No. 3,795,285, assigned to Caterpillar Tractor Company, Peoria IL, March 1974.

Honors

  • Recipient, NASA Traineeship, Purdue University (1967-1968)
  • Contributing Author, Committee #7, Tall Buildings Council
  • Sigma Xi honorary engineering society
  • Pi Tau Sigma honorary engineering society
  • Cited in Community Leaders of the World
  • Cited in The World Directory of Mathematicians (1974)
  • Cited in Who's Who in the Midwest
  • Best Paper of Session Award, American Controls Conference, Atlanta, GA (1988)
  • Cited in Illinois Reviewed ( Nov. 1989)
  • Life Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
  • Life Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers
  • Cited as the design inspiration for the dynamical systems installed in the Harumi Island Triton Square complex, Tokyo, Japan (2001)
  • Featured in I-Contact Article, “Rollers and The Renaissance Man,” Illinois Alumni Magazine, Vol. 16, No. 5, p. 10 (Mar/Apr 2004)
  • Featured in Midwest Living magazine, p. 14 (Nov/Dec 2004)
  • Featured in Exceptional Parent Magazine, pp. 26-27 (May 2005)
  • Featured in Bicycling, pp. 33-35 (December 2005)
  • Featured in People, p. 118 (August 29, 2005)
  • Best Paper of the Year Award, IEE (2005)

Teaching Honors

  • Five-Year Alumni Effective Teaching Award, Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (1985 and 1993)
  • Two-Year Alumni Effective Teaching Award, Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (1985)