Automatic Control Laboratory

Open Opportunities

Control of Airborne Wind Energy systems in high fidelity simulation environment ETH Zurich Automatic Control Laboratory Various control approaches for Airborne Wind Energy (AWE) systems have been previously proposed in the literature. The goal of this project is to design a controller leveraging an in-house high fidelity simulation framework and then showing the improved performance in simulation. Aerodynamics, Electrical Engineering, Flight Control Systems, Flight Dynamics Master Thesis, Semester Project

Hardware implementation of chaotic Chua's oscillator networks ETH Zurich Automatic Control Laboratory Chua's oscillators are constructed using components that act like they have negative resistance, and are prototypical examples of chaotic systems. The student will be constructing a hardware testbed consisting of a network of these oscillators Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Electrostatics and Electrodynamics, Instruments and Techniques Applications (IfA), Semester Project

Machine Learning Modelling for Path-following Control ETH Zurich Automatic Control Laboratory In this work we aim to develop a machine learning- based model for tracking a precise path in 2D using predictive control strategy. The methods are similar to lap-time optimization in autonomous racing, however the scale is different, as position tolerances are in the orders of tens of micrometers. Control Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Software Engineering, Systems Theory and Control Applications (IfA), Master Thesis, Semester Project

Control of life support systems for lunar habitats ETH Zurich Automatic Control Laboratory With the announcement of NASA's Artemis program to establish a permanent human presence on the moon, there is an increased interest in the development of technologies to facilitate this endeavour. The student will be responsible for designing a life support control system for a moon base. Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering Applications (IfA), Computation (IfA), Energy (IfA), Master Thesis, Semester Project, Theory (IfA)

Robust adaptive model predictive control of quadrotors ETH Zurich Automatic Control Laboratory Designing robust controllers for real-life systems results in conservative control performance. This conservatism can be reduced by learning the model online and tuning the controller. In this project, a robust adaptive MPC scheme will be used to deliver packages reliably with a quadrotor. Control Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Flight Control Systems, Optimisation, Robotics and Mechatronics, Systems Theory and Control, Systems Theory and Control Applications (IfA), Master Thesis

Control of an autonomous paramodel ETH Zurich Automatic Control Laboratory In this project an embedded controller will be designed and implemented on an adapted RC paramodel, allowing it to fly autonomously and safely in a wide range of conditions and loads. Classical Physics, Electrical Engineering, Flight Control Systems Applications (IfA), Bachelor Thesis, Energy (IfA), Lab Practice, Master Thesis, Semester Project

Optimizing the design of sum-of-squares programs for stability regions of nonlinear systems ETH Zurich Automatic Control Laboratory The aim of this project is to improve the performance of sum-of-squares programs used for stability region verification by rigorously assessing the effect of various objective functions on the obtained region and required runtime. Electrical Engineering, Numerical Analysis, Optimisation, Programming Techniques, Systems Theory and Control Master Thesis, Semester Project

Convolutional neural networks for billiard state estimation ETH Zurich Automatic Control Laboratory This project will use deep learning to recognise balls on a billiard table as part of the Automatic Control Lab's "DeepGreen" snooker robot project. We are building a robot able to take human-level accuracy shots, and this project will improve this accuracy further using reliable computer vision. Calculus of Variations and Control Theory, Computer Vision, Control Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Intelligent Robotics, Knowledge Representation and Machine Learning, Neural Networks, Genetic Alogrithms and Fuzzy Logic, Neurocognitive Patterns and Neural Networks, Robotics and Mechatronics, Systems Theory and Control, Systems Theory and Control Bachelor Thesis, Internship, Lab Practice, Master Thesis, Semester Project

Statistical analysis of virtual reinforcement capabilities through reactive power control ETH Zurich Automatic Control Laboratory Distributed generation and changing consumption will lead to under/over-voltages, which may force us to shed loads or to curtail generation. Control can mitigate these extreme actions. Using real data, we want to statistically analyze how modern controllers can virtually enforce the grid. Control Engineering, Systems Theory and Control, Systems Theory and Control Master Thesis

Modeling and identification of Limit Cycle Oscillations in thermoacoustic instabilities ETH Zurich Automatic Control Laboratory Thermoacoustic instabilities are nonlinear phenomena that arise when acoustic waves adversely couple with unsteady heat release, determining the onset of Limit Cycle Oscillations. The project aims at deriving models and system identification approaches for their investigations. Acoustics and Acoustical Devices; Waves, Dynamical Systems, Electrical Engineering, Harmonic and Fourier Analysis, Systems Theory and Control, Systems Theory and Control, Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics Master Thesis