2011 Events:

Note: the linked titles for some events are the presentations speakers provided which can be viewed online or downloaded.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011: "Control Systems for Variable Speed Wind Turbines" by Prof. Ping Hsu (SJSU)

Abstract:The presentation gives an overview of various control applications in a modern variable speed electrical power generation wind turbine. The presentation will start with an introduction of various types of turbine and turbine dynamics. Control applications in wind turbines include yaw control, turbine speed control, generator torque control, blade pitch control, control of doubly-fed induction generator, control of power for grid connection and structure vibration damping control.

BProf. Ping Hsu graduated from University of California, Berkeley in 1988 with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. He joined San Jose State University in 1990 and is currently a faculty member in the Electrical Engineering Department. His research interests include nonlinear control, generator and motor control, power electronics, and power systems. Prof. Hsu was involved in the control software development for a variable speed wind turbine starting in 1997. The work resulted in a commercial generator control system that is used in thousands of commercially manufactured 750 kW and 1.5 MW turbines. Prof. Hsu has been collaborating with wind turbine and power electronics equipment manufacturers in the area of system analysis and development.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011: "The NASA Ames Vertical Motion Simulator – A Facility Engineered for Realism" by Aponso, Bimal L. (ARC-AFS)

Abstract:Developed initially to provide the motion fidelity necessary for research on vertical and short take-off and landing aircraft, the Vertical Motion Simulator at NASA Ames Research Center, provides the realistic pilot cues necessary for conducting research on a wide variety of vehicles with challenging stability and control characteristics. Its design and development leveraged prior experience with motion-based simulators at Ames to optimize the motion cueing environment to ensure the delivery of high quality research data that translates to flight. Over 30 years of continuous operation, the Vertical Motion Simulator has contributed significantly to the body of knowledge in a range of disciplines including human pilot cueing modalities and simulation fidelity, aircraft/spacecraft handling qualities and flight control design, and pilot-vehicle interface design. These contributions directly benefited several aerospace programs and flight safety, particularly the design and development of flight control systems for modern rotorcraft, the Joint Strike Fighter, and the Space Shuttle Orbiter. Its overall level of realism makes it a viable surrogate to flight-testing and a safe and cost-effective solution for reducing risk in aerospace vehicle development programs and investigating fundamental pilot-vehicle interaction issues.

Bimal Aponso is currently Chief of the Aerospace Simulation Research and Development Branch (SimLabs) at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field,CA. SimLabs includes the Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS), Crew Vehicle System Research Facility (CVSRF) and Future Flight Central (FFC) simulation facilities. Bimal has over 25 years of research and development experience in the areas of vehicle dynamics modeling and analysis, simulation, stability and control, and handling qualities. He has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Manchester, UK, and an MS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland. He also has an MBA from the University of Southern California.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011: "Networked Control Systems II: Innovative Topologies for Distributed Motion Control" by Jason Goerges, ACS Motion Control, Inc.

Abstract:Innovative Topologies for Distributed Motion Control - With a modern industrial ethernet network like EtherCAT, it is now possible to provide fully coordinated real time multiaxis motion control with a distributed architecture. Traditionally, achieving this level of performance was best handled with a centralized architecture because of the required bandwidth and deterministic communication. If the features of a modern real-time industrial ethernet network like EtherCAT is used, the performance of a centralized controller can be extended to a network based approach, which has many benefits (scalability, low cost, easy connectivity).

Jason is a native of Minnesota, and received his Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering and Minor in Business Management from the University of Minnesota. He went on to receive a Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University with a focus on digital signal processing and control systems. After working as an engineer at Honeywell Flight Control Systems, Jason joined ACS Motion Control in 2007 and currently resides near Minneapolis, Minnesota with his wife. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, and being active in his local community

Wednesday, May 11, 2011: " Networked Control Systems I: The EtherCAT Standard for Control Systems" by Joey Stubbs, EtherCAT Technology Group

Abstract:This presentation is an in-depth introduction to Ethernet as a fieldbus, and specifically EtherCAT, the fastest industrial Ethernet fieldbus available, capable of updating 1000 distributed I/O in 30µs, 200 16-bit analog I/O in 50µs, or 100 servo axes in 100µs. Its small footprint, low overhead, and open nature make it ideal for embedded applications, custom controls manufacturers, and device developers. EtherCAT sets new standards for real-time performance and topology flexibility, while meeting or undercutting standard industrial fieldbus cost levels. EtherCAT features include IEEE 802.3 compatibility, high precision device synchronization, a cable redundancy option, flexible topology, fiber optic or Cat5 cabling options, and a native functional safety protocol (SIL3). EtherCAT is an international standard (IEC, ISO and SEMI). EtherCAT is represented by the EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG), the largest fieldbus organization, with over 1500 member companies from 52 countries around the world. .

Joey Stubbs is the North American representative of the EtherCAT Technology Group, the largest industrial fieldbus organization in the world. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Carolina, as well as several technical degrees. He has over 20 years of industrial experience in industrial automation. He is also a registered Professional Engineer (PE) and a registered Project Management Professional (PMP).

April 13, 2011: "Study of Human and Robotic Motion - What Can it Teach Us About Our Brains and Bodies?" by Vytas Sunspiral, NASA Ames

Abstract: There is a fundamental connection between understanding our daily human experience and researching robotics. This connection is Motion. Because our brains exist to coordinate motion, if we wish to understand how we think, feel, and relate to others, we should start by understanding how we move. Robotics is also fundamentally a science of Motion, spanning the range from motor controllers to advanced algorithms for world modeling and deciding where to move to. This talk will integrate lessons learned from many robotics systems (both NASA built robots and others), and emerging theories of human physiology and neuroscience to paint an integrated picture of how our brains and bodies work together to create coordinated actions in a messy dynamic world. In the process we will see that unlike computers, our brains are organized around timing, rhythm, and synchronization, and that human qualities like self-awareness may be the side effect of the computational requirements of intentional motion.

Vytas is a Senior Robotics Researcher in the Intelligent Robotics Group within the Intelligent Systems Division at NASA Ames Research Center. He is currently leading efforts within the group to develop new biologically inspired approaches to robotic systems which interact safely with humans and the environment. Recently, Vytas lead development and field-testing of the Footfall Planning Software, which enables operators to plan walking sequences over complex terrain for the ATHLETE family of six-legged lunar robots. Prior to that Vytas was the Manager of the ArmLab, where he investigated non-dexterous robotic manipulation of the environment. Vytas has been developing new robotic technologies and leading start-ups since he graduated from Stanford University in 1998. Most recently he took at 1.5-year break from NASA to be the CTO of Apisphere Inc, a Berkeley based startup that built a cloud-based system for delivering location triggered services to mobile devices. His first start-up in 1998 was Mobot Inc., which built fully autonomous robotic tour guides for museums – some of the first publicly, deployed social robots to autonomously interact with the public. In parallel with his career in Robotics Research, Vytas has been a life-long student of human motion in many forms, including yoga, dance, martial arts, and (consequently) many forms of physical therapy.

March 23, 2011: "Adaptive Inverse Control (Part III Nonlinear Systems)" by Prof. Bernard Widrow, Stanford University

Abstract: At popular request Prof. Widrow will return to present Part 3 of his series, which will focus on the adaptive inverse control of nonlinear systems.

Adaptive inverse control, a novel meth of self-correcting system dynamics uses feed forward control to optimize plant performance. Unlike conventional control methods, adaptive inverse control uses feedback to control the variable parameters of the controller itself, offering enhanced flexibility and precision in the control of unknown variable systems.

Adaptive filtering techniques have been used successfully in a variety of signal processing problems, including antenna systems, channel equalization, echo cancellation, and spectral estimation. This presentation will discuss how these techniques are being used in control systems. Adaptive inverse control is suited to both stable and unstable plants, minimum phase and nonminimum phase plants, and linear and nonlinear sy stems. Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) plants are supported as well as single-input single-output (SISO) plants. Control of plant dynamics is treated separately, without compromise, from optimal control of plant disturbance.

Bio: Bernard Widrow received the S.B., S.M., and Sc.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1951, 1953, and 1956, respectively. He joined the MIT faculty and taught there from 1956 to 1959. In 1959, he joined the faculty of Stanford University, where he is Professor of Electrical Engineering.

He began research on adaptive filters, learning processes, and artificial neural models in 1957. Together with M.E. Hoff, Jr., his first doctoral student at Stanford, he invented the LMS algorithm in the autumn of 1959. Today, this is the most widely used learning algorithm, used in every MODEM in the world. He has continued working on adaptive signal processing, adaptive controls, and neural networks since that time.

Dr. Widrow is a Life Fellow of the IEEE and a Fellow of AAAS. He received the IEEE Centennial Medal in 1984, the IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal in 1986, the IEEE Signal Processing Society Medal in 1986, the IEEE Neural Networks Pioneer Medal in 1991, the IEEE Millennium Medal in 2000, and the Benjamin Franklin Medal for Engineering from the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia in 2001. He was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering in 1995 and into the Silicon Valley Engineering Council Hall of Fame in 1999.

Dr. Widrow is a past president and member of the Governing Board of the International Neural Network Society. He is associate editor of several journals and is the author of over 125 technical papers and 21 patents. He is co-author of Adaptive Signal Processing and Adaptive Inverse Control, both Prentice-Hall books. A new book, Quantization Noise, was published by Cambridge University Press in June 2008.

February 24, 2011: "Addressing System Control Complexity with Multi-Physics Modeling and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Simulation" Workshop sponsored by National Instruments and MapleSoft

Abstract: The Santa Clara Valley Chapter of IEEE Control Systems Society is pleased to offer this workshop about Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulation. Experts from industry will discuss the theory and practice of HIL simulation and testing and offer hands-on experience with industry-grade hardware and software tools. As the growth in system complexity outpaces the expansion of development resources and project timelines, the tools and techniques must evolve to achieve success. As an example, multi-physics modeling environments are providing design efficiency for these mechatronics systems by simplifying the modeling process allowing more time for design analysis and innovation. But the ability to re-use the investments in these models in real-time testing applications including HIL simulators and test cells can greatly expand the impact of this evolution. This presentation will provide an overview of the HIL testing process, the impact it has made in various industries, and new HIL testing techniques that have emerged to increase its effectiveness. It will also discuss how multi-physics modeling environments are being used with these systems. During a self-paced hands-on workshop in the afternoon, attendees will step through the process of creating models with MapleSoft's MapleSim multi- physics modeling environment, automatically generating a compiled, real-time executable version of the model, and then using that version of the model with National Instruments’ VeriStand to create a HIL test system. Several advanced application demonstrations will be performed at the end of the workshop.

Program:

Bios:

Christoph Wimmer graduated from Graz University of Technology in Austria with a master’s degree in electrical engineering with the focus on control systems. He started working at National Instruments in 1998 and is currently working as business development manager for industrial measurements and control for Washington, Oregon, and California. Using his expertise in real-time, embedded, and industrial monitoring and control, Christoph focuses on assisting customers with system simulation, rapid control prototyping, and hardware in the loop applications.

February 5, 2011: "Modeling and Simulation of Dynamical Systems" Experts from the academia and industry discussed the theory, practice, and software and hardware tools for engineers who develop or utilize such models.

Abstract: Modern control systems are more complex and perform more functions than ever before. The controlled systems typically comprise existing subsystems, commercially available components, as well as custom subsystems. Their development requires the collaboration of multi-disciplinary engineering teams who often work in different locations distributed around the globe. Traditional product development processes can be insufficient to address the increasing system complexity, the pressure to shorten the time to market, and market demands for more functionality with higher reliability. Many companies modify or transform their development processes to exploit a model-based design approach. Models as executable specifications clarify and communicate requirements and specifications and are replacing traditional, paper-based specifications. Subsystem concepts are simulated before the real subsystems are available, and multi-domain models simulate the system- level behavior of new designs. This multi-domain, model-based design approach requires engineering skills at a systems level rather than in a single domain, including strong modeling and analytical skills, computer hardware and software, and the mathematical modeling of dynamic systems. This seminar offers an introduction to the modeling and simulation of dynamical systems and a selection of helpful hardware and software tools.

Program:

Bios:

Dr. P.K. Menon is the Chief Scientist, President and founder of Optimal Synthesis Inc., a company focused on Control Systems and Signal Processing Technology development for the aerospace engineering industry. He served as an Associate Professor of aerospace engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology, Visiting Scientist at NASA Ames Research Center, Adjunct Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Santa Clara University, Research Scientist at Integrated Systems Inc, and as a Mission Analyst at the Indian Space Research Organization. Dr. Menon has over 36 years of experience in the aerospace industry, and has published over 40 papers in the AIAA and IEEE journals, and over 120 papers in international conferences. He is the recipient of the 1994 M. Barry Carlton Award from the IEEE, the 2000 Engineer of the Award from AIAA San Francisco Section, the 2003 Best paper of the Conference Award from the AIAA, three technology awards from NASA, and the Adjunct Lecturer of the Year award from Santa Clara University. In 2010, he was elected a Fellow of the AIAA for innovative contributions towards the development of next-generation air traffic flow management algorithms and integrated nonlinear flight control system design methods. Dr. Menon received his Ph. D degree in 1983 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute under the direction of Professor Henry J. Kelley, an ME degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science in 1975 and a BE degree in Mechanical Engineering from Osmania University in 1973. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE, member of Sigma Xi and Sigma Gamma Tau - the aerospace honor society. Dr. Menon is a member of the American Radio Relay League, and the Experimental Aircraft Association.

Dr. Mark B. Tischler is an Army Senior Technologist (ST) and Senior Scientist at the Army Aeroflightdynamics Directorate located at the Ames Research Center. He is closely involved in the strategic planning of future Army rotorcraft research programs. He represents Army research interests in interagency and international cooperations, including as US Technical Project Officer for the US/Israel Memorandum of Agreement. Dr. Tischler also leads the Flight Control Technology group which conducts research in handling qualities and flight control with applications to manned and unmanned aircraft and rotorcraft. He led development of CIFER® and CONDUIT®, two widely-used software tools for conducting aircraft system identification and flight control system design optimization. Dr. Tischler is widely consulted for flight control expertise on numerous US aircraft programs, including his most current work in support of the Army Armed Reconnaissance helicopter, UH-60MU, CH47G, unmanned BURRO and FireScout helicopters, the Boeing 787, and the Cessna Aircraft Company.

Dr. Tischler has authored or co-authored over 110 technical papers and two highly respected books, including the recently published "Aircraft and Rotorcraft System Identification" (Tischler and Remple, AIAA, 2006). He has received many prestigious awards for his work over the years, including most recently the 2009 Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Senior Professional. He received BS and MS degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland, and his Ph.D. from the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautic at Stanford University. Dr. Tischler has also served as primary research advisor for 27 Masters and PhD students that have conducted their thesis work under his guidance.

Dr. Hadi Aggoune received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. He served as faculty at the University of Washington, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, and The National Polytechnic School, Algiers, Algeria. Currently, he is the Roy C. Anderson Chair Professor and Director of Engineering programs at Cogswell Polytechnical College in Sunnyvale, CA. Dr. Aggoune is the Founder and Director of the Engineering Simulation and Animation Laboratory (ESAL) and winner of the Boeing Performance Excellence Award. He is the Principal Investigator on research and development projects sponsored by the Boeing Company. Dr. Aggoune is a Senior Member of IEEE and a Professional Engineer registered in the State of Washington. His research and development interests include modeling, simulation, and visualization.

Christoph Wimmer graduated from Graz University of Technology in Austria with a master's degree in electrical engineering with the focus on control systems. He started working at National Instruments in 1998 and is currently working as business development manager for industrial measurements and control for Washington, Oregon, and California. Using his expertise in realtime, embedded, and industrial monitoring and control, Christoph focuses on assisting customers with system simulation, rapid control prototyping, and hardware in the loop applications.

Dr. Martin Aalund is an expert in robotics and automation. He is experienced in both industry and academia and has led the development of numerous automation systems for the global semiconductor industry. He has served as Director of Engineering for KLA-Tencor's Automation Standards Division and the Films and Scatterometry Technology Group. Earlier in his career, he was VP of Engineering at Aquest Systems Inc, Director of the Advanced Technology Group at PRI Automation, Inc., and Director of electrical engineering for Smart Machines, which manufactured robotic handling systems for both wafers and flat panel substrates. Dr. Aalund has also pioneered automation solutions for the industrial and pharmaceutical markets at McKesson, where he was responsible for developing both hardware and embedded software for the company's automated prescription systems. Dr. Aalund began received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas. He later went on to become a group leader at the University's Austin Robotics Group - the largest mechanical engineering robotics research organization in the United States. Dr. Aalund also was a founder of ARM Automation, developing innovative modular robotic and control systems for the food, welding, nuclear and assembly industry. A well published author and holder of several automation patents, Dr. Aalund was also a professor of electrical engineering at Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California.

Dr. Karl Mathia is a systems and controls engineer in the areas of control systems, automation, and robotics. He has 20 years of experience in the research and development of automation and robotic systems. Dr. Mathia received an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University in Munich, Germany, and a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Portland State University, Portland, Oregon. He is the author of over 30 technical articles and the book "Robotics for Electronics Manufacturing - Principles and Applications in Cleanroom Automation", published by Cambridge University Press in 2010. Dr. Mathia is a Senior Member of the IEEE and is the Chair of the IEEE Control Systems Society (CSS) - Santa Clara Valley Chapter.

February 1, 2011: "Adaptive Inverse Control (Part II)" by Prof. Bernard Widrow, Stanford University

Abstract: Adaptive inverse control, a novel meth of self-correcting system dynamics uses feed forward control to optimize plant performance. Unlike conventional control methods, adaptive inverse control uses feedback to control the variable parameters of the controller itself, offering enhanced flexibility and precision in the control of unknown variable systems.

Adaptive filtering techniques have been used successfully in a variety of signal processing problems, including antenna systems, channel equalization, echo cancellation, and spectral estimation. This presentation will discuss how these techniques are being used in control systems. Adaptive inverse control is suited to both stable and unstable plants, minimum phase and nonminimum phase plants, and linear and nonlinear sy stems. Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) plants are supported as well as single-input single-output (SISO) plants. Control of plant dynamics is treated separately, without compromise, from optimal control of plant disturbance.

Bio: Bernard Widrow received the S.B., S.M., and Sc.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1951, 1953, and 1956, respectively. He joined the MIT faculty and taught there from 1956 to 1959. In 1959, he joined the faculty of Stanford University, where he is Professor of Electrical Engineering.

He began research on adaptive filters, learning processes, and artificial neural models in 1957. Together with M.E. Hoff, Jr., his first doctoral student at Stanford, he invented the LMS algorithm in the autumn of 1959. Today, this is the most widely used learning algorithm, used in every MODEM in the world. He has continued working on adaptive signal processing, adaptive controls, and neural networks since that time.

Dr. Widrow is a Life Fellow of the IEEE and a Fellow of AAAS. He received the IEEE Centennial Medal in 1984, the IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal in 1986, the IEEE Signal Processing Society Medal in 1986, the IEEE Neural Networks Pioneer Medal in 1991, the IEEE Millennium Medal in 2000, and the Benjamin Franklin Medal for Engineering from the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia in 2001. He was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering in 1995 and into the Silicon Valley Engineering Council Hall of Fame in 1999.

Dr. Widrow is a past president and member of the Governing Board of the International Neural Network Society. He is associate editor of several journals and is the author of over 125 technical papers and 21 patents. He is co-author of Adaptive Signal Processing and Adaptive Inverse Control, both Prentice-Hall books. A new book, Quantization Noise, was published by Cambridge University Press in June 2008.

January 19, 2011: "Adaptive Inverse Control (Part I: Adaptive filtering for control)" by Prof. Bernard Widrow, Stanford University

Abstract: Adaptive inverse control, a novel meth of self-correcting system dynamics uses feed forward control to optimize plant performance. Unlike conventional control methods, adaptive inverse control uses feedback to control the variable parameters of the controller itself, offering enhanced flexibility and precision in the control of unknown variable systems.

Adaptive filtering techniques have been used successfully in a variety of signal processing problems, including antenna systems, channel equalization, echo cancellation, and spectral estimation. This presentation will discuss how these techniques are being used in control systems. Adaptive inverse control is suited to both stable and unstable plants, minimum phase and nonminimum phase plants, and linear and nonlinear sy stems. Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) plants are supported as well as single-input single-output (SISO) plants. Control of plant dynamics is treated separately, without compromise, from optimal control of plant disturbance.

Prof. Widrow will be available for book signing after the presentation.

Widrow_AIC_book

Bio: Bernard Widrow received the S.B., S.M., and Sc.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1951, 1953, and 1956, respectively. He joined the MIT faculty and taught there from 1956 to 1959. In 1959, he joined the faculty of Stanford University, where he is Professor of Electrical Engineering.

He began research on adaptive filters, learning processes, and artificial neural models in 1957. Together with M.E. Hoff, Jr., his first doctoral student at Stanford, he invented the LMS algorithm in the autumn of 1959. Today, this is the most widely used learning algorithm, used in every MODEM in the world. He has continued working on adaptive signal processing, adaptive controls, and neural networks since that time.

Dr. Widrow is a Life Fellow of the IEEE and a Fellow of AAAS. He received the IEEE Centennial Medal in 1984, the IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal in 1986, the IEEE Signal Processing Society Medal in 1986, the IEEE Neural Networks Pioneer Medal in 1991, the IEEE Millennium Medal in 2000, and the Benjamin Franklin Medal for Engineering from the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia in 2001. He was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering in 1995 and into the Silicon Valley Engineering Council Hall of Fame in 1999.

Dr. Widrow is a past president and member of the Governing Board of the International Neural Network Society. He is associate editor of several journals and is the author of over 125 technical papers and 21 patents. He is co-author of Adaptive Signal Processing and Adaptive Inverse Control, both Prentice-Hall books. A new book, Quantization Noise, was published by Cambridge University Press in June 2008.