inControl

Anders Rantzer, a Professor in Automatic Control at Lund University, dives into his extensive journey through robust control and hybrid systems. He discusses Kharitonov's theorem and integral quadratic constraints, illuminating their significance in stability analysis. Rantzer emphasizes the adaptive nature of control systems and their relevance in real-world applications like energy grids and personalized medicine. His insights on the duality of Lyapunov's theorems showcase the evolution of control theory, while offering valuable advice for students eager to forge connections in the field.

Outline00:00 - Intro01:07 - Early steps02:47 - Why control?05:20 - The move to the US07:40 - The first journal paper13:30 - What is backstepping?17:08 - Grad school25:10 - Stochastic stabilization29:53 - The interest in PDEs43:24 - Navier-Stokes equations52:12 - Hyperbolic PDEs and traffic models57:51 - Predictors for long delays1:08:14 - Extremum seeking1:27:14 - Safe control1:36:30 - Interplay between machine learning and control1:42:28 - Back to the roots: robust adaptive control1:50:50 - On service1:55:54 - AdviceLinksMiroslav’s site: https://flyingv.ucsd.edu/Tuning functions paper: https://tinyurl.com/yznv6r9rP. Kokotović: https://tinyurl.com/mwmbm9yhSeparation and swapping:  https://tinyurl.com/y4fre6t8Adaptive nonlinear stabilizers: https://tinyurl.com/4a9wmmvxKKK book: https://tinyurl.com/2kw2b4k6Stochastic nonlinear stabilization: https://tinyurl.com/4td3537aFollow-up with unknown covariance: https://tinyurl.com/4c4n7fd7Boundary state feedbacks for PIDEs: https://tinyurl.com/4e9y4tdrBoundary Control of PDEs: https://tinyurl.com/d8x38bmjStabilization of Navier–Stokes systems: https://tinyurl.com/4a8cbjemTraffic congestion control: https://tinyurl.com/525jphs5Delay compensation: https://tinyurl.com/5yz6uj9pNonlinear predictors for long delays: https://tinyurl.com/7wvce6vyStability of extremum seeking: https://tinyurl.com/mr5cvzd3Nash equilibrium seeking: https://tinyurl.com/yeywrysnInverse optimal safety filters: https://tinyurl.com/9dkrpvkkNeural operators for PDE control: https://tinyurl.com/5yynsp7vBode lecture: https://tinyurl.com/mp92cs9uCSM article: Support the showPodcast infoPodcast website: https://www.incontrolpodcast.com/Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/5n84j85jSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/4rwztj3cRSS: https://tinyurl.com/yc2fcv4yYoutube: https://tinyurl.com/bdbvhsj6Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/3z24yr43Twitter: https://twitter.com/IncontrolPInstagram: https://tinyurl.com/35cu4kr4Acknowledgments and sponsorsThis 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.

Manfred Morari, Emeritus Professor at ETH Zurich and a distinguished figure in control theory, shares his insights on the evolution of control systems. He discusses his transformative journey from chemical engineering, emphasizing the importance of blending theory with real-world applications. Morari highlights advancements in PID controller design, robust control, and model predictive control while noting the critical role of collaboration with industry. He also reflects on the integration of AI within control systems, addressing the challenges and opportunities that arise from this intersection.

Explore the remarkable journey of Richard Bellman, the father of dynamic programming, tracing his transition from an early life in Brooklyn to pivotal roles during WWII and at Princeton. Hear about his moral dilemmas at Los Alamos and the RAND Corporation amidst the Cold War. Delve into his groundbreaking contributions to control theory and the curse of dimensionality. Discover the resilience of a man who continued to innovate in mathematics, even after personal challenges, leaving a profound legacy in artificial intelligence and optimization.

Karl Henrik Johansson, a Professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Director of Digital Futures, dives into fascinating topics like hybrid systems and wireless control. He shares insights from his PhD journey and the significance of relay feedback in PID tuning. The discussion highlights the future of transportation, focusing on platooning in freight and innovations in autonomous vehicles. Johansson also addresses cybersecurity concerns in control systems and emphasizes the need for collaborative research to tackle societal challenges ahead.

Munther Dahleh, the William Coolidge Professor at MIT, shares his remarkable insights into control theory and its societal implications. He discusses the evolution of data systems, emphasizing their role in addressing complex issues like renewable energy and electric vehicles. The conversation touches on the intricacies of agile robotics and motion planning, intertwined with human-AI interactions. Dahleh also explores the dynamics of information flow in social networks and the importance of analytical thinking in engineering education, inspiring future innovators to embrace challenges.

Bart De Moor, a Professor at KU Leuven, dives into the fascinating realms of subspace identification and linear algebra. He shares insights from his academic journey, influenced by giants like Willems and his experiences at Stanford alongside Golub and Kailath. The discussion touches on the evolution of machine learning and its connection to quantum information. Bart also offers valuable advice on entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of networking and intellectual property for future innovators.

Francesco Bullo, an expert in geometric control, robotic networks, and mathematical sociology, discusses his research journey from Italy to California. Topics include robotic locomotion, academic environments, networked systems, contraction theory, coupled oscillators in power grids, and the art gallery problem. Bullo also shares insights on writing, publishing, and professional service in the field of control systems.

Brian Douglas, Principal Technical Marketing Manager at MathWorks and the brain behind Engineering Media, dives into his journey from Boeing to space mining. He discusses the birth of his popular control theory videos, focusing on innovative, engaging teaching methods. The conversation highlights his visual map of control theory, designed to clarify complex concepts, and the importance of creativity in education. Douglas also shares insights on the future of control education, emphasizing interaction and real-world applications.

Outline00:00 - Intro01:17 - Early Years04:17 - The “Scenic Route” to Control Theory12:44 - Sampled Data Systems22:26 - Linear Parameter Varying (LPV) Identification28:07 - From Distributed Systems and PDEs ...38:59 - ... to Distributed Control of Spatially Invariant Systems49:02 - Taming the Navier-Stokes Equations50:55 - Advice to Future Students1:13:12 - Coherence in Large Scale Systems1:32:28 - On Resistive Losses in Power Systems1:39:00 - Cochlear Instabilities1:50:40 - Stochasticity in Feedback Loops2:00:00 - About Linear and Nonlinear Control2:08:14 - How to Select a Research Problem2:14:21 - Future of Control2:22:06 - OutroLinks- Paper on moment-invariants and object recognition: https://tinyurl.com/26tnks3z- Bassam’s PhD Thesis: https://tinyurl.com/3n2274dv- Identification of linear parametrically varying systems: https://tinyurl.com/mryebhhy- Distributed control of spatially invariant systems: https://tinyurl.com/rzszjch2- Shift Operator: https://tinyurl.com/24fwehet- Heat Equation: https://tinyurl.com/57rc6s7h- Navier-Stokes Equations: https://tinyurl.com/45ktrd2e- The impulse response of the Navier-Stokes equations: https://tinyurl.com/4vaausfn- Non-Normal Matrix: https://tinyurl.com/58z4sph8- Coherence in large-scale networks: https://tinyurl.com/ynm5cbay- The Price of Synchrony: https://tinyurl.com/3svzancw- Tinnitus: https://tinyurl.com/yc5hm549- Cochlear Instabilities: https://tinyurl.com/fjespjbj- Stochasticity in Feedback Loops: https://tinyurl.com/yc6aw9xt- Koopman Operator: https://tinyurl.com/3jeu68p8- Carleman Linearization: https://tinyurl.com/yckzrnfh- Mamba Model: https://tinyurl.com/33h59jwj- Spectral Factorization: https://tSupport the showPodcast infoPodcast website: https://www.incontrolpodcast.com/Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/5n84j85jSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/4rwztj3cRSS: https://tinyurl.com/yc2fcv4yYoutube: https://tinyurl.com/bdbvhsj6Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/3z24yr43Twitter: https://twitter.com/IncontrolPInstagram: https://tinyurl.com/35cu4kr4Acknowledgments and sponsorsThis 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.