Alleyne Research Group Overview Poster
Energy Management Systems
Energy management systems are becoming an important area of research as non-renewable energy resources are being consumed at an unsustainable rate. While the traditional method of improving system efficiency of a range of thermal systems, from combustion engines to vapor compression systems, has been through advanced hardware design, we are learning that advanced control techniques offer a unique opportunity to significantly improve not only the efficiency, but also the performance, of these systems. The research projects presented here focus on a range of energy domains, ranging from large building heating and cooling systems to energy systems in air vehicles.
Micro/Nano Scale Manufacturing Control
Manufacturing is necessary for any society. In the Alleyne Research Group, we aim to provide control and automation solutions to advanced manufacturing processes at the micro and nano-scale. With improved positioning of manufacturing toolbits comes advanced precision in the manufacturing process. We study a specific form of control betterment methods termed iterative learning control (ILC) in which control performance is improved through process repetition. By learning from previous repetitions of the process, we can synthesize supplementary feedforward signals that counteract disturbances and nonlinearities that are detrimental to process accuracy. We have applied these control schemes on microscale positioning systems, micro-extrusion systems in a fabrication process termed micro-Robotic Deposition, and a nanoscale fabrication process termed electrohydrodynamic jet printing.
Past Work / Archive
Learn about some of the lab’s past work.
