Each workshop runs from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM (0830 to 1730) except the half-day workshop which runs from 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM (1330 to 1730).

Certificates for Continuing Education Units (CEU) earned in the workshops are available at $15.00 per workshop regardless of duration (two-day, one-day, or half-day). Units are calculated  based on 1 CEU for each 10 hours of class time

• Two day workshops = 1.8 CEU

• One day workshops = 0.9 CEU

• Half day workshops = 0.45 CEU   

Use the table below to navigate within this page.

Two day workshops:

Practical Techniques in Control Engineering (back to Workshops Table)
(CANCELLED)

Dennis S. Bernstein, University of Michigan
Carl R. Knospe, University of Virginia

This course provides a bridge between recent developments in control theory and their practical application in  the laboratory and industry.  Beginning with an overview of fundamental tradeoffs and issues that affect control-system performance, the course systematically covers topics in linear and nonlinear modeling, linear and nonlinear controller synthesis, and robust and adaptive tuning.  Controller implementation issues such as saturation, quantization, and state constraints are also discussed.  The theoretical foundation of each topic are reviewed along with a discussion of practical ramifications and limitations.  The course is suitable for students, instructors, and researchers who wish to obtain a broad perspective of the control engineering enterprise as well as control engineers from all industrial applications seeking a coherent, self-contained overview of recent developments relevant to control practice. 

Workshop outline

1-Day or 2-Day Workshop: Recent Advances in Subspace System Identification:
Linear Systems (Day 1), Nonlinear Systems (Day 2) (back to Workshops Table)

W.E. Larimore, Adaptics
D. E. Seborg, University of California at Santa Barbara

This workshop presents a first principles development of subspace system identification (ID) for linear, nonlinear, and closed-loop systems using the maximum likelihood method. This gives optimal parameter estimates and likelihood ratio tests of hypotheses on model order/structure and tight Cramer-Rao accuracy bounds. These new results along with the superior computational properties of subspace ID greatly extend the potential applications. Examples discussed include closed-loop linear and nonlinear systems for monitoring, fault detection, control design, and robust and adaptive control. No prior knowledge of the subject is assumed.

Workshop outline

Robust and Adaptive Control Workshop (2-day)  (back to Workshops Table)

Kevin A Wise, Boeing Phantom Works
Eugene Lavretsky, Boeing Phantom Works

Presents modern robust control theory, applications, lessons learned, and recent/new advances in adaptive/reconfigurable flight control theory and application. An overview of the Lyapunov stability theory, followed by an introduction to adaptive control using neural networks is presented. Aerospace applications include the HAVE SLICK air-to-surface missile, JDAM, the X-36 tailless fighter, and the X-45A UCAV. The workshop covers in detail the control design and analysis methods used on the X-45A UCAV, and the neural adaptive control laws with new extensions from the USAF RESTORE program (flown on X-36, JDAM, and Laser-JDAM).

Workshop outline

One day workshops:

Control Applications for Power Generation: A Tutorial, Some Advanced Topics and Many Open Problems (back to Workshops Table)
(CANCELLED)

Corneliu Barbu, Fernando D’Amato, General Electric, Global Research Center

All complex power production applications nowadays, from gas and steam turbines, to wind turbines, to integrated gasification combined cycle, require some degree of closed-loop control, for stability and performance.  In power generation applications, model-based control design methods have to address typical problems associated with complex applications such as large order models and actuator nonlinearities, but also specific issues - dynamic nonlinearities, mode coupling or limitations due to conflicting control objectives.  In this workshop we present both a tutorial and a set of open control problems in two such applications: a wind turbine control problem and the control of thermoelastic systems. The presentation will point out why certain problems are hard and what are the current design limitations, will introduce benchmark examples to motivate the search for new control design methods, and will also review control validation methods using high-fidelity simulators and implementation concerns.

Workshop outline

Control of Fuel Cells (back to Workshops Table)

 Organizers:
Anna Stephanopolou, University of Michigan
Jing Sun, University of Michigan

Presenters:
Anna Stephanopolou, University of Michigan
Jing Sun, University of Michigan
Subbarao Varionda, United Technology Research Center
Lino Guzzella, ETH Zurich
Ian Hiskens, University of Wisconsin

Fuel cell systems, as alternatives to conventional power systems, present a wide range of challenging problems for control and system optimization. Recent research activities in fuel cell system modeling, dynamic analysis, control design and analysis, and optimization have led to new insights and improved design tools. This workshop presents an overview of the recent developments in this important technical area. Fundamentals will be reviewed, frontiers will be explored, and methodologies and tools will be discussed. Control-oriented models for fuel cells and their associated enabling technologies, such as the fuel processing system and power electronics, will be covered. Optimization for fuel cell vehicles and fuel cell based distributed power systems and combined heat power systems will be discussed. Research needs and open problems will be highlighted.

Workshop outline

Dynamic Inversion Tutorial - Theory and Example Applications (back to Workshops Table)

Dale Enns, Honeywell Labs, Minneapolis, Minnesota
George Papageorgiou, Honeywell Labs, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Dynamic inversion is an attractive methodology for controls development since it applies to nonlinear systems, has much in common with classical controls, and is suitable for practical systems implementation. This workshop will present the method in general terms of additive and multiplicative inverse. Stability results and zero dynamics will be discussed. We will discuss how a special plant model is used in place of traditional gain scheduling. Different approaches to control allocation will be discussed which is used for the multiplicative inverse and deals with constrained actuator position and rate limits as well as redundant controls. The workshop will spend nearly half of the time on three detailed examples to illustrate different aspects of the methodology. One example will highlight the application to unstable systems, another example will illustrate decoupling of a multivariable system, and the final example will illustrate the use of nested inner to outer loops to control the trajectory of a vehicle. The presenters have significant experience in industrial application of dynamic inversion methodology, related theoretical developments, and are also experienced with education and technology transfer.

Workshop outline

Stochastic Search and Optimization (back to Workshops Table)

James Spall, The Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Lab
Stacy Hill, The Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Lab

This workshop will review search and optimization algorithms and analysis techniques that are widely used in the control systems community. The emphasis will be on general principles, comparative analysis of algorithm performance, and issues relevant to practical implementation. Participants will be directed to the textbook or other appropriate literature for details associated with the implementation and/or the underlying theory.

This workshop is an introduction to stochastic search and optimization, as oriented to systems and control problems. Stochastic search and optimization plays an increasing role in the analysis and control of modern systems as a way of coping with inherent system noise and with providing algorithms that are relatively insensitive to modeling uncertainty. Methods for stochastic search and optimization are used throughout virtually all aspects of control theory and practice. To name a few areas, these include: decision aiding, system identification, flight control for aircraft, simulation-based optimization for discrete-event systems, performance analysis of communication networks, control and scheduling of complex manufacturing processes, and computer-based personnel training.

This workshop introduces the fundamental issues in stochastic search and optimization with special emphasis on cases where classical deterministic techniques (linear and nonlinear programming, etc.) do not apply. These cases include many important practical problems, which will be discussed throughout the course (e.g., neural network training, simulation-based optimization, target tracking, nonlinear control, image processing, discrete-event systems, experimental design, etc.).

 Workshop outline

Workshop on Disk Drive Control (back to Workshops Table)
(CANCELLED)

Fred Hansen, R. T. Consulting

Rick Ehrlich, Toshiba
 

As is the case for most control system applications, the area of HDD (Hard-Disk-Drive) servo control involves a broad range of technologies beyond pure control theory. A successful HDD servo engineer must understand issues associated with the sensors, the mechanical system being controlled, details of the disturbance environment, and the limitations of finite computation resources, in addition to being able to “stabilize a loop”. The instructors will give a broad overview of the current state of disk-drive servo technology. They will start with a brief review of the basic technologies involved in HDDs, to show the constraints that the rest of the system place upon the servo. Next, they will present more detailed information about the mechanical system, the position-sensing system, and actuator-drivers. Finally, they’ll put together an example state-space controller for a fictional (but typical) HDD servo-loop. The session will end with a discussion of the current challenges faced by HDD servo engineers.
 

Workshop outline

Workshop on Modeling and Analysis of Biological Regulatory Networks
(back to Workshops Table)

Francis J. Doyle, III, University of California at Santa Barbara
Michael A. Henson, University of  Massachussetts Amherst

Systems biology has emerged as a prominent new field that provides a much-needed interface between the life sciences and quantitative disciplines including engineering and mathematics. The novelty of systems biology lies in the emphasis on analyzing complexity in networked biological systems using integrative rather than reductionist approaches. The aim of this workshop is to provide an introduction to a particular domain of systems biology to which classically trained control engineers have made substantial contributions: the modeling and analysis of cellular regulatory networks. The necessary biological background will be introduced by reviewing basic concepts of genetic and metabolic regulation as well as cellular signaling. Examples ranging from the generation of circadian rhythms to the regulation of energy metabolism will be used to illustrate modeling and analysis methods.

 Workshop outline

Coordination and Control of UAVs for Urban Operations (back to Workshops Table)

Organizers:

Datta Godbole, Honeywell Labs
Tariq Samad, Honeywell Labs

Presenters:

George Pappas, University of Pennsylvania
John Bay, DARPA
David Musliner, Honeywell Labs
Siva Banda, Air Force Research Laboratory
Shankar Sastry, University of California – Berkeley
George Vachtsevanos, Georgia Tech
Clair Tomlin, Stanford University
Dale Enns, Honeywell Labs
Francesco Borrelli, Carnegie Mellon University
Sanjeev Singh, Carnegie Mellon University
Mar Steinberg, Navair (invited)

This workshop will highlight recent advances in the coordination and control of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with specific reference to military operations in urban terrain (MOUT).  Applications to MOUT are a relatively new driving force for defense-related R&D in UAVs.  We have brought together a diverse group of speakers, representing industry, government, and academe, all of whom have been at the forefront of research in UAVs for urban applications.  The speakers will review recent research results, present new UAV designs and multi-UAV developments, and discuss complexities associated with reconnaissance, surveillance, tracking, and other operations in densely populated cities.   Technical topics we will cover include control design for unconventional small UAVs; UAVs as network-centric platforms, planning algorithms for multi-UAV urban missions; route optimization in obstacle-rich environments, and communication-constrained coordination algorithms.

 Workshop outline

Real Time Optimization By Extremum Seeking Control (back to Workshops Table)

Miroslav Krstic, University of California, San Diego
Kartik Ariyur, Honeywell Aerospace Electronic Systems
Andrzej Banaszuk, United Technologies Research Center
Mario Rotea, Purdue University

Eugenio Schuster, Lehigh University
 
 
Extremum seeking control, a popular tool in control applications in the 1940-50's, has seen a resurgence in popularity as a real time optimization tool in aerospace and automotive engineering. Extremum seeking is a non-model based method of adaptive control, and, as such, it solves, in a rigorous and practical way, some of the same problems as intelligent control techniques. This workshop will present the theoretical foundations and selected applications of extremum seeking. The first half of the workshop will teach the attendees the extremum seeking algorithms, the basics of their stability analysis, and the design guidelines. Both single-parameter and multivariable problems will be covered, as well as both the continuous and discrete time implementations. A novel "slope seeking" extension applicable to some unstable plants will be introduced. An application of extremum seeking to minimizing limit cycles caused by actuator limitation will be presented. In the second half of the workshop, applications to aerospace and propulsion problems (formation flight, combustion instabilities, flow control, compressor rotating stall, thermoacoustic coolers, autonomous vehicles), automotive problems (anti-lock braking, engine mapping), bioreactors, and charged particle accelerators will be presented.

Workshop outline

Diagnostics, Prognostics, and Health Management (DPHM): from theory to practice
(back to Workshops Table)
(CANCELLED)

Organizer:

Dr. Eirc van Doorn, Intelligent Automation, Inc.
Dr. Dev Tolani, Intelligent Automation, Inc.

Presenters:

Dr. Eirc van Doorn, Intelligent Automation, Inc.
Dr. Dev Tolani, Intelligent Automation, Inc.
Dr. Ravi Patankar, Intelligent Automation, Inc.
Dr. Asok Ray, Pennsylvania State Univeristy
Dr. Sharaya Tulpule, Pratt and Whitney
Dr. Kallappa Pattada, Impact Technologies

This workshop will focus on current state of the art in Diagnostics, Prognostics, and Health Management (DPHM) and the application of these ideas to a wide variety of industries (both in scope and size) and academia. The proposed workshop will last for day and will be represented by participants from three companies actively involved in this area: Intelligent Automation Inc (IAI), Impact Technologies and United Technologies (UTC). The recent theoretical advances will be covered by Dr Asok Ray who is a Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering at PennState.

Workshop outline

Micro- and Nanoscale Robotics (back to Workshops Table) (CANCELLED)

 Metin Sitti, Carnegie Mellon University

For the miniaturization of devices and machines down to atomic and molecular sizes, micro/nanorobotic approach enabling precision manipulation, manufacturing, and interaction at the micro- and nanoscales is indispensable.  Micro/Nanorobotics as an emerging field is based on the micro/nanoscale physics, fabrication, sensing, actuation, system integration, and control taking the scaling effects into consideration.  Micro/Nanorobotics encompasses: (i) design and fabrication of micro/nanorobots with overall dimensions at the millimeter and micrometer ranges and made of micro/nanoscopic components; (ii) programming and coordination of large numbers of micro/nanorobots; and (iii) programmable assembly of micro/nanoscale components. This tutorial will focus on state-of-the-art micro/nanorobotics research topics, challenges, and activities around the world and at the NanoRobotics Laboratory.

As the first focus area, precision nanomanipulation systems using Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) probes will be introduced.  Here, AFM probes are utilized as a pushing, pulling, cutting, and indenting type of nanomanipulator, and also as a three-dimensional (3-D) topography and force sensor.  As the first application, using an AFM probe and a teleoperated human-machine interface, fine gold particles down to 14nm radius are positioned in two-dimension by mechanical pushing for developing micro/nanoassembly technology, and teleoperated touch feedback from the surfaces at the nanoscale is realized.  Next, liquid polymers are pulled and solidified precisely by an AFM probe to manufacture customized 3-D polymer micro/nanofibers.  Next, design methodology, analysis, and fabrication of biomimetic fibrillar adhesives inspired by geckos are explained.  Geckos have unique dry adhesive fibers in their feet to climb any surface with a very high maneuverability.  Discovering the principles of gecko adhesion recently, synthetic polymer micro/nanofibers are fabricated using micro/nanomolding techniques.  The results of current prototype adhesive fibers and miniature climbing robots inspired by geckos are reported. Finally, miniaturization issues of micro/nanorobots are discussed.  As current miniature robotics activities, biomedical swimming and endoscopic capsule microrobots, water strider robots walking on water, and Integrated Nano-Tool Carrier walking robots are explained briefly, and challenging issues are addressed.  These miniature robots could revolutionize health-care, environmental monitoring, manufacturing, and space exploration applications in the future.

Workshop outline