Contributions to the Control of Networked Cyber-Physical Systems

Manuel Mazo, Jr.
Advisor: Paulo Tabuada

Friday, May 28, 2010 at 9:30am
Engr. IV Maxwell Room 57-124

Abstract:
Cyber-Physical Systems (CPSs) are complex engineered systems in which digital computation devices interact with the physical world. Boosted by recent advances in computation, communication, and sensing technologies these systems are becoming increasingly ubiquitous. Cyber-Physical Systems exhibit complex behaviors stemming from intricate interactions between the physical world and computation devices. The increasing presence of CPSs in life critical applications combined with the inability of current methodologies to analyze these systems urges the development of new approaches for analysis and design. Moreover, these new techniques, yet to be developed, are required to deliver CPSs that are both efficient and operate correctly under a wide range of circumstances. This is one of the greatest challenges faced by the cyber-physical systems community. In this talk I present my contributions to the solution of this problem through two complementary techniques: I provide efficient implementations of decentralized control systems over wireless sensor/actuator networks while guaranteeing operational performance; and I provide automated tools for the synthesis of correct-by-design embedded controllers considering time optimality requirements.

Biography:
Manuel Mazo Jr. is a PhD candidate at UCLA's Electrical Engineering Department, under the supervision of Prof. Paulo Tabuada. He received his Telecommunications Engineering "Ingeniero" degree from the Polytechnical University of Madrid (UPM), Spain, and the "Civilingenjör" degree in Electrical Engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Sweden, both in 2003. He also received a MSc. in Electrical Engineering from UCLA in 2007. Prior to joining UCLA for his PhD, he spent time performing research at KTH, UPM and The University of Newcastle (Australia). His main research interest is non-linear and hybrid control systems, with a particular emphasis on eventtriggered control, distributed and networked systems, and the application of formal verification techniques to control.

More information can be found at: http://www.ee.ucla.edu/~mmazo