Malcolm C. Smith’s contributions to the control systems field range from the foundations of robust control and systems theory to the synthesis of passive networks.
His most high-profile achievement is his invention of “the inerter” concept and device which arose from a fundamental study of performance limits in passive suspension systems.
A collaboration between the University of Cambridge and McLaren Racing led to the inerter’s first use in Formula One at the Spanish Grand Prix in 2005 with McLaren achieving its first of 10 victories in the season.
The range of applications of the inerter continues to expand: vibration mounts and absorbers, building suspensions for earthquake mitigation, rail suspensions, aircraft landing gear, bipedal robots.
An IEEE Life Fellow, Malcolm C. Smith is a Professor of Control Engineering, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge.
