Archived Assorted Content

Spencer Kieffer: Control of a Roll to Roll Electrohydrodynamic Jet (E-Jet) PrinterspencerkieffersuitInk jet printing technology is used by millions of people every day. Although it is incredibly effective for most applications, ink jet printers leave much to be desired when micro- and nano- scale feature sizes are required. E-Jet printing, a new technology that can print features orders of magnitude smaller than ink jet printers, can overcome these shortcomings. My current research is focused on developing E-Jet printing technology to print functional devices, such as circuits and biosensors, on scales smaller than can currently be achieved by any additive manufacturing technique.
Xavier Moya: 3-D Heterogeneous Functional Integration of ElectronicsheadshotHigh power density is desirable in most electronics applications. However, contemporary systems are limited in this regard, as traditional planar circuit boards require external cooling to manage their thermal loads. I am seeking to create devices with higher power densities by moving to a three-dimensional design with embedded thermal transport vias and cooling. My research focuses on combining heterogeneous additive manufacturing with microdevice fabrication and assembly to create compact, fully-integrated 3D electronic circuits.

 

Bryan Keating: Multi-parameter Extremum Seeking Control of HVAC SystemsHeating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are ubiquitous in residential and industrial cooling. It is challenging to make a reliable model of an HVAC system that guarantees optimal operating parameters in the presence of unknown exogenous variables. Using an algorithm known as extremum seeking control, HVAC operating parameters can be optimized in real-time without complete knowledge of the HVAC system model.

 

Matthew Williams: Dynamic Modeling of Aircraft Thermal Systems Modern air vehicles are complex “systems of systems” encompassing the domains of high-performance engines and thermodynamic cycles, electric power, thermal energy, propulsion, reliability management, and others. Previously, these systems could be designed and operated in relative isolation from each other with acceptable results. As modern systems become increasingly integrated, it becomes essential that these systems be designed and operated in concert, in a manner that optimizes the multi-objective outcome. For example, the complete system should maximize its operating domain while being able to accommodate significant transients.

 

Katherine Amber: Dynamic Modeling of Reversible Heat Pumps
Reversible heat pumps are used in several applications, though perhaps the best known would be HVAC units for homes. A reversible heat pump can behave as both a heater and a cooler, so its reduced volume requirements make it desirable for high-population regions. However, designing the control methods for such a system is not trivial. Thus developers would find use in a computer model which allows them to try different control schemes. I am working on modeling reversible heat pump systems in two different software packages, one of which is Thermosys.

Lindsey Gonzales: Model-based Defrost Strategies
As one of the leading means of energy consumption globally, improvements to heating and cooling systems provide great opportunity reductions in energy costs. Throughout operation, refrigeration systems exhibit evaporator frost growth, resulting in the need for a defrost cycle. Through the use of a model-based approach, greater understanding of coil frost growth could aid in the development of improved defrost strategies aimed at improving system performance.

 

 

Micro/Nano Scale Manufacturing ControlThe following ARG students are currently conducting research in the field of micro/nano scale manufacturing control.
Erick Sutanto: Precision Motion Control
My research focuses on precision motion control for Electrohydrodynamic-Jet (E-Jet) printing. E-Jet printing is a nano-manufacturing technique utilizing high electrical potential difference to produce a very fine droplet diameter. The application of this printing technique varies from high resolution electronics manufacturing to Biology. I am currently expanding the capability of the system to print with multiple materials simultaneously
Vehicle System Dynamics and ControlThe following ARG students are currently conducting research in the field of vehicle system dynamics and control.
Nanjun Liu: Auto Tuning PID for Auto-trac Universal
The study is performed to automatically select proportional, integral and derivative gains for a John Deere ATU system. An ATU system is a mobile guidance kit that could be mounted on multiple agricultural vehicles to realize automatic guidance. Currently, users of the ATU system face a challenge in tuning the PID gains for his particular application in order to gain satisfactory vehicle performances. The aim of the study is to automatically determine the optimized PID gains for vehicle guidance controller using sets of time maneuver tests
Yangmin Xie: Header Height Control System for Combine Harvesters
The objective of this project is to develop a robust advanced control system algorithm for the automatic header height systems on John Deere’s combines. Instead of traditional on-off controller, automotive control for header height is applied to change the height according to current working conditions and terrain shape. The challenges in the project involve underactuated system and output disturbance rejection. Improvement of sensor system and correspondingly control algorithm are applied to adaptively maintain certain header height with high robustness, such that to improve heaviest efficiency and decrease grain loss.

 

 Nanjun Liu: Iterative Identification for Repetitive Systems
The overall focus of my research within Alleyne Research Group is on the identification of systems that are asked to execute the same task repetitively. One example of these systems is manufacturing processes. The repetitive nature of such systems allow us to adopt a notion similar to Iterative Learning Control. More specifically, the information obtained in one trial can be passed to a subsequent trial to improve the parameter learning. This identification method is shown to be valuable for both Linear Time Varying systems and Linear Time Invariant systems.
 Erick Sutanto: Precision Motion Control
My research focuses on precision motion control for Electrohydrodynamic-Jet (E-Jet) printing. E-Jet printing is a nano-manufacturing technique utilizing high electrical potential difference to produce a very fine droplet diameter. The application of this printing technique varies from high resolution electronics manufacturing to Biology. I am currently expanding the capability of the system to print with multiple materials simultaneously.
 Yangmin Xie: Header Height Control System for Combine Harvesters
The objective of this project is to develop a robust advanced control system algorithm for the automatic header height systems on John Deere’s combines. Instead of traditional on-off controller, automotive control for header height is applied to change the height according to current working conditions and terrain shape. The challenges in the project involve underactuated system and output disturbance rejection. Improvement of sensor system and correspondingly control algorithm are applied to adaptively maintain certain header height with high robustness, such that to improve heaviest efficiency and decrease grain loss.