Automatic Control Laboratory

Open Opportunities

Distributed Control of Large-scale Systems ETH Zurich Automatic Control Laboratory Distributed MPC is a popular technique to control large-scale systems such as microgrids and vehicle platoons. In this project, we aim to develop a distributed MPC scheme with low computational complexity using distributed optimization techniques to control safety-critical large-scale systems. Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Master Thesis, Semester Project

Controller development for a renewable hydrogen production system for mobility application ETH Zurich Automatic Control Laboratory In this project we aim at developing a continuous controller (PID or optimization-based) for an electrolyzer situated at Empa. The electrolyzer needs to be operated such that it guarantees the supply of hydrogen for fuel-cell vehicles using renewable power from local PV as much as possible. Control Engineering, Process Control and Simulation Applications (IfA), Energy (IfA), Master Thesis

Distributed Model Predictive Control in building energy hubs ETH Zurich Automatic Control Laboratory The aim of this work is to develop and implement a distributed Model Predictive Control strategy to control an energy hub at NEST building at Empa in Dübendorf, where different energy prosumers negotiate energy consumption and production. Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering Energy (IfA), Master in Integrated Building Systems (ETHZ), Master Thesis, Theory (IfA)

Debiasing regularization in learning and system identification algorithms ETH Zurich Automatic Control Laboratory Regularized optimization has reported positive results in system identification recently. Such methods aim to avoid overfitting at the cost of inducing bias. In this project, we will investigate debiasing techniques in the context of learning and system identification. Control Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Numerical Analysis, Optimisation, Pattern Recognition, Simulation and Modelling, Statistics, Systems Theory and Control, Systems Theory and Control Computation (IfA), Master Thesis, Theory (IfA)

Robust adaptive model predictive control with ellipsoidal tubes ETH Zurich Automatic Control Laboratory Robust adaptive MPC is a technique where model parameters are learned online using measurements. To ensure robustness, techniques from tube MPC are generally used. In this project, we aim to investigate novel ways to improve the design of these controllers by using ellipsoidal tubes. Control Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Optimisation, Systems Theory and Control, Systems Theory and Control Master Thesis

Data-driven inverse polynomial stochastic optimal control with applications to autonomous quadcopter flight ETH Zurich Automatic Control Laboratory This project considers discrete-time Markov decision process and addresses the inverse problem of inferring a cost function from observed optimal behavior. The proposed method will avoid solving repeatedly the forward problem and its relevance will be illustrated on the quadcopter flight problem. Engineering and Technology, Information, Computing and Communication Sciences, Mathematical Sciences Computation (IfA), Master Thesis, Theory (IfA)

Greedy algorithms in control design for resilient networks ETH Zurich Automatic Control Laboratory Several fundamental questions for selecting actuators in a large-scale dynamical network remain open. This project analyzes the performance of the reverse greedy algorithm in selecting actuators. This algorithm excludes the least beneficial actuator iteratively starting from the full set of actuators Systems Theory and Control Master Thesis, Semester Project, Theory (IfA)

Design, control, and testing of a travelling wave thermoacoustic machine for energy harvesting ETH Zurich Automatic Control Laboratory Energy harvesting with thermoacoustic engines has a tremendous potential for the development of sustainable and reliable energy systems. In this project, a new solution based on a controlled travelling wave device will be investigated and tested. Acoustics and Acoustical Devices; Waves, Control Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Heat and Mass Transfer Operations, Mechanical Engineering, Process Control and Simulation, Systems Theory and Control, Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics Applications (IfA), Energy (IfA), Master Thesis

Master Thesis: Robust control for the design of a transparent Power- Hardware-In-the-Loop interface. ETH Zurich ETH Zurich Other organizations: Automatic Control Laboratory The goal of the project is evaluate a new concept of Power Hardware-In-the-Loop (PHIL) interface design using tools from robust and optimal control. Electrical Engineering Master Thesis

AI for robotic snooker player ETH Zurich Automatic Control Laboratory This project will use tools from approximate dynamic programming and reinforcement learning for designing an AI snooker player. 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 Master Thesis