Seeking StudentsFlight Control Design for Next-generation QuadcopterAdvisor:
Daniel ZelazoWe are considering new actuation and power delivery approaches to quadcopters. In this project we explore the control laws for a quadcopter equiped with a micro-gas turbine that can be used for power delivery and thrust. The first phase of the project is to design stabilizing controllers, with the goal of building a quad with an MGT.Research
Seeking StudentsPath Following using low-fidelity camera on a quadcopterAdvisor:
Daniel ZelazoDesign and code control algorithms for a quadcopter with a downward facing camera to follow a path marked on the ground. The project will involve basic image processing and C-coding, along with famiiliarity with MATLAB/Simulink.Experimental
Seeking StudentsInterception of a Ballistic Target with an Agile RobotAdvisor:
Tal Shima Gleb MerkulovDesign, implement, and test the guidance, navigation and control system for a constant-speed agile ground robot to catch a target flying a ballistic trajectory before it hits the floor.Experimental
Seeking StudentsGraph Connectivity for Multi-Agent SystemsAdvisor:
Daniel ZelazoGraphs are a mathematical tool commonly used for studying multi-agent systems. One issue of importance is to quantify how "connected" a multi-agent system is, and this is done by studying the eigenvalues associated to special matrices describing the network interconnection. This project will explore how certain eigenvalues change with the addition and removal of connections in the network with the goal of finding optimal structures that balance the number of connections with given values of these eigenvalues.Research
Seeking StudentsQuadrotor Trajectory FollowingAdvisor:
Tal Shima Jha BhargavInvestigate different methodologies for trajectory following by a quadcopter using the hardware-in-loop abilities of matlab (Simulation and Experiments).Experimental
Seeking StudentsCyclic PursuitAdvisor:
Tal Shima Jha BhargavImplement and investigate cyclic pursuit of multiple robots. Implementation to be performed on the CASY infrastructure using Simulink.Experimental
Seeking StudentsLarge Swarm ControlAdvisor:
Daniel ZelazoExplore control laws for large swarms. This project considers a single agent (perhaps a human) that can direct the motion of a large swarm of robots.Research
Seeking StudentsFormation control strategies for TurtleBotII RobotsAdvisor:
Daniel ZelazoThis project focuses on implementation challenges for a multi-robot system. We are working with the TurtleBotII robots, and aim to implement various formation control algortihms for testing and validation.Experimental
Seeking StudentsPose estimation of quadcopterAdvisor:
Ruslan Archipov Daniel Zelazo Vadim IndelmanThe advanced control lab currently uses a quadcopter as its experimental testbed. In order to compare various control and estimation algorithms, it is important to have knowledge of the true state of the system. One way to obtain partial knowledge is via pose estimation using a camera. The project will focus on the design and implementaiton of the estimator.ResearchExperimental
Seeking StudentsControl of an Airfoil on Rotary PendulumAdvisor:
Ruslan ArchipovDesign and build a control system for an airfoil attached to the rotary pendulum testbed in the lab. The lab focuses on control algorithms to stabilize the airfoil by controlling its angle of attack.ResearchExperimental
Seeking StudentsGimbal for Quadcopter LabAdvisor:
Ruslan ArchipovDesign and build a robust testing gimbal for control and estimation of a quadcopter. Includes mechanical design, sensor selection, and control design.ResearchExperimental
Seeking StudentsControl of a 3-Axis GimbalAdvisor:
Ruslan ArchipovDesign of controllers for a 3-axis gimbal using an IMU (similar to IMU used on smart phones, such as VectorNav). Study option to add additional sensors to the gimbal system (speed sensor, IMU, voltmeters, etc).ResearchExperimental
Seeking StudentsGuidance Sharing Information with Range SensorsBy:
Liat Peled (Rafael) Advisor:
Daniel ZelazoWe want to develop and design a new guidance approach with range sensors only. These sensors have a lack in information. In order to enrich the information, we have to design the guidance in a group where each UAV has a different destination and shares its information with others. ResearchExperimental
Seeking StudentsSensor Suites for DC Motor LabAdvisor:
Ruslan ArchipovThe DC Motor testbed in the control lab is used to study different strategies for the control of a motor and inverted pendulum. New sensors can lead to different control architectures. This project will explore different sensor options to add to the testbed, including IMUs and tachometers. The project will involve sensor selection, integration, and testing.ResearchExperimental
Seeking StudentsSimulation of Urban EnvironmentBy:
Anna Clarke Advisor:
Anna ClarkeThe idea is to create a virtual city district with streets, traffic lights, pedestrians, vehicles, obstacles, and other attributes of urban environment. The moving objects (cars, pedestrians, etc.) should have a reasonable non-identical dynamic behaviour, such that in total a traffic scenario of a common city is reconstructed in simulation. This simulation can then be used to test/develop algorithms concerned with autonomous driving, optimization of fuel consumption, planning of taxis operation, and etc. Work on one of these topics can become a subject for master's research.Research
Seeking StudentsUnscented Transform Controller (UTC) ApplicationsBy:
Anna Clarke Advisor:
Anna ClarkeThis new control algorithm, based on an Unscented Transform and model prediction, needs to be tested in various applications. It is interesting to try using it to control simple systems (but with non trivial dynamics), which can be analytically linearized. Then, the UTC performance can be compared to performance of other methods, in particular optimal control. UTC robustness should also be investigated: sensitivity to model uncertainty and measurement noise, as well operation with only partial state feedback. This project can be continued to master's research, with major focus on formulating and proving conditions for the global/local stability of UTC. Research
Seeking StudentsSkydiver Model Trim ConditionsBy:
Anna Clarke Advisor:
Anna ClarkeThe dynamic model of a skydiver is highly non-linear and has multiple control variables: joints rotational degrees-of-freedom, muscle forces applied via different limbs, and muscle stiffness. The skydiver's body in free-fall can be in many different unsymmetrical postures in dynamic equilibrium. Therefore, it is important to find an efficient numerical/analytical way to compute fixed points of the skydiver model. Additionally, for each equilibrium point it is required to compute numerically or analytically the system Jacobian. This project can be continued to master's research, focusing on bifurcation analysis of this system.
Seeking StudentsDynamic Model of a RAM Air ParachuteBy:
Anna Clarke Advisor:
Anna ClarkeThe model will receive user steering inputs and configuration parameters defining canopy size, type, wing loading, etc. A simulation of its flight can be designed in Matlab to test the physical fidelity of the model. This project can be continued to master's research focusing on autonomous control of flight and landing of RAM air parachutes. Research
Seeking StudentsTracking Human Movements via Opti-TrackBy:
Anna Clarke Advisor:
Anna ClarkeThe goal is to collect Opti-Track measurements of a sequence of human postures during some physical activity (in the lab) and construct from these measurements a model of human body composed of rigid segments connected by joints. This project can be developed into a master's research devoted to investigating human motor equivalence.Experimental
Seeking StudentsVR Simulator of Human MovementBy:
Anna Clarke Advisor:
Anna ClarkeCreating a Virtual Reality world in Unity 3D, which will include an animated model of human body moving in inertial space. To test the resulting VR world a Matlab simulation can be designed, producing a sequence of postures, and body inertial position and orientation, and sending these inputs to Unity via a UDP protocol. This project can be developed into a master's research focusing on VR simulators for training motor skills.Experimental
Seeking StudentsVR Simulator of Parachute FlightBy:
Anna Clarke Advisor:
Anna ClarkeCreating a Virtual Reality world in Unity 3D, which will include a model of a RAM air parachute system viewed from the perspective of its pilot, during the flight towards the landing area and during landing. The model will receive (via a UDP protocol) continuous user inputs of the steering toggles position and must update the canopy's orientation and position relative to the inertial world. This project can be developed into a master's research focusing on VR training of canopy control. Experimental
Seeking StudentsAR Display of Ego-Motion and PostureBy:
Anna Clarke Advisor:
Anna ClarkeGiven an animated human model in Unity 3D it is desired to build a wearable setup including Augmented Reality goggles (Vuzix) and an X-Sens movement tracking suit and/or Opti-Track system for displaying in real time the body posture of the user. This project can be developed into a master's research focusing on AR training of kinesthetic skills.Experimental