Automation, Robotics and Control

CISE Faculty: Sean Andersson, John Baillieul, Calin Belta, Christos Cassandras, David Castañon, Pierre Dupont, Michael Gevelber, Mac Schwager and Hua Wang.



Overview
Automation: State-of-the-art automation solutions are developed for a wide range of industries, ranging from sub-micron, high precision machinery for optoelectronics and semiconductor manufacture, to high-speed assembly of consumer goods. Our data-driven systems facilitate flexibility, self diagnostics and minimal change over time.

Robotics: Specific applications now under development include integration of mechanical and control system design for industrial robot manipulators, adaptive tuning of adjustable vibration absorbers for aircraft and space structures, active and/or passive methodologies for introducing motion confinement characteristics in repetitive structures, distributed impact damping as a means of attenuating vibrations of machinery and structures, friction modeling and compensation applied to precision machining, disk head positioning, teleoperation, and robotic manipulation, as well as biologically-inspired control of walking robots.

Control, Intelligent Machines and Information Based: This research focuses on the use of wireless networking technologies (IEEE 802.11b, Bluetooth, etc.) for both hard real-time (teleoperated robot control, robotic surgery, etc.) and soft real-time (supervisory control of mobile robots) applications., Work is also aimed at understanding the fundamental information processing (data-rate) requirements for controlling complex physical systems. Data compression techniques which optimize closed-loop control performance are being developed for communication links between sensors and actuators that are subject to network congestion or other data-rate limiting factors.

Control, Process Based: This research focuses on developing and applying a controls-based approach to enhancing materials processing capabilities which includes an integrated effort of physical modeling, sensor development, system design and control development. Research projects, typically conducted with industry partners, span a range of important applications areas including enhanced materials processing for opto-electronic applications, advanced engines, power systems and cutting tools.

Research Impact: This research impacts national security, advances in medical technology and telecommunications drawing on significant recent advances in robotics, sensor networks and communications and control technology.

Current Research Topics: robotic swarms, image-guided surgery, networked control systems, bio-inspired control, discrete-event systems, hybrid systems, atomic force microscopy

Research Spotlight: