Chicago is a town that boasts many firsts, the first mail order business, the first elevated railway, and the first automated bread factory. Now, it can add the first combined VTC-VPPC conference and VTS Women in Engineering luncheon to its list.

The conference keynotes kicked off with Honorary Chair Marty Cooper – Father of the Cell Phone, leading a remarkable opening session! Dennis Roberson of Roberson and Associations and Illinois Institute of Technology served as the General Chair and did a phenomenal job!

Another noteworthy organizing effort was accomplished by the Technical Program Committee Chair, Oliver Holland of King’s College, London. Technical Program Committee Co-Chairs include Octavia Dobre and Miguel Sepulcre Ribes also worked long and hard to help complete the VTC technical program. We truly cannot thank our volunteers enough!

The Chicago Industry Track and schedule of keynotes were filled with some of the most globally impressive names in wireless technology, Smart City development, and vehicular communication innovation. With approximately 50 professionals serving as keynote speakers, panelists, and organizers, this event was power packed with a vast array of industry expertise.

Some of the companies represented were Argonne National Laboratory, The Boeing Company, BMW, Caterpillar, John Deere, Toyota, and the US Federal Communication Commission. Subject matter consisted of top executives discussing markets, technology, customer requirements, advances in 5G, IoT, and regulation-standards barriers and opportunities.

Some speakers focused specifically on societal impacts of autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and the challenges and opportunities of building autonomous vehicles and networks.

Over 850 participants gathered at the Hilton Chicago Hotel for four days of networking, research exchange, and engagement in social activities. There were close to 600 papers and posters presented throughout the conferences.

One of the new programmatic additions was the first Women in Engineering Luncheon that was held on Tuesday, 28 August. Dr. Aylin Yener, faculty in Electrical Engineering at Pennsylvania State University and an IEEE Fellow, was the inaugural keynote speaker.

Other social events included a VTS Members Breakfast and a Young Professionals Panel where students and new professionals could interact with seasoned mentors.

While VTC and VPPC shared their opening plenary program, VPPC delegates shared research on Electric Power Systems, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Energy Storage and Generation, Hydrogen Refueling Infrastructures, Motor Drives and Electric Power Systems. On the final day of VPPC, Argonne National Laboratory invited VPPC delegates to tour some of their Chicago facilities.

VTC2018-Fall and VPPC 2018 were a huge success! Delegates truly enjoyed the conferences, the hotel and Chicago! The Board of Governors appreciates all the long hours and hard work that goes into creating such fantastic and fruitful experiences for all those who attend.

We look forward to seeing you in Kuala Lumpur in the coming spring, in Honolulu, Hawaii in September 2019, and in Hanoi, Vietnam in October 2019!

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