ep7 - Jean-Jacques Slotine: Sliding, nonlinear and adaptive control, contraction theory, complex networks, optimization, and machine learning

In this episode, our guest is Jean-Jacques Slotine, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Information Sciences as well as Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Director of the Nonlinear Systems Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Distinguished Faculty at Google AI.  We explore and connect a wide range of ideas from nonlinear and adaptive control to robotics, neuroscience, complex networks, optimization and machine learning.

Outline
00:00 - Intro
00:50 - Jean-Jacques' early life
06:17 - Why control?
09:45 - Sliding control and adaptive nonlinear control
18:47 - Neural networks
23:15 - First ventures in neuroscience
28:27 - Contraction theory and applications
48:26 - Synchronization
51:10 - Complex networks
57:59 - Optimization and machine learning
1:08:17 -  Advice to future students and outro

Episode links
NCCR Symposium: https://tinyurl.com/bdz84p4c
Sliding mode control: https://tinyurl.com/2s45ra4m
Applied nonlinear control: https://tinyurl.com/4wmbt4bw
On the Adaptive Control of Robot Manipulators: https://tinyurl.com/b7jcpkzw
Gaussian Networks for Direct Adaptive Control: https://tinyurl.com/22zb7pkx
The intermediate cerebellum may function as a wave-variable processor: https://tinyurl.com/2c34ytep
On contraction analysis for nonlinear systems: https://tinyurl.com/5cw4z9j8
Kalman conjecture: https://tinyurl.com/2pfjsbke
I. Prigogine: https://tinyurl.com/5ct8yssb
RNNs of RNNs: https://tinyurl.com/3mpt7fec
How Synchronization Protects from Noise: https://tinyurl.com/2p82erwp
Controllability of complex networks: https://tinyurl.com/24w7hdae
B. Anderson: https://tinyurl.com/e9pkyxdx
Online lectures on nonlinear control: https://tinyurl.com/525cnru4

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Acknowledgments and sponsors
This episode was supported by the National Centre of Competence in Research on «Dependable, ubiquitous automation» and the IFAC Activity fund. The podcast benefits from the help of an incredibly talented and passionate team. Special thanks to L. Seward, E. Cahard, F. Banis, F. Dörfler, J. Lygeros, ETH studio and mirrorlake . Music was composed by A New Element.