The document discusses how control engineering, systems engineering, and robotics can help enable a smarter planet through technologies like cyber-physical systems and autonomous intelligent systems. Control engineering plays a key role in applications through technologies like modeling, optimization, and decision-making. Systems engineering is important for integrating these technologies and designing complex systems. Robotics can deliver complete functionality through autonomous machines. Overall, these fields will be crucial for developing technologies to address challenges in areas like transportation, healthcare, and manufacturing.

1. The Role of
Control, Robotics and Systems Engineering
for a Smarter Planet
Visakan Kadirkamanathan
Director, Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre
Department of Automa@c Control and Systems Engineering
University of Sheffield
Science and Technology for Society Forum 2016

2. Department
Of
Automatic Control & Systems Engineering.
Overview
• Control and Systems Engineering
• Complex Systems Design
• Cyber Physical Systems
• Autonomous Intelligent Systems
• Robo@cs Applica@ons
• Summary
2

3. Department
Of
Automatic Control & Systems Engineering.
“The Smarter Planet” Initiative
• IBM and other ins@tu@ons created the ini@a@ve
how a whole new genera+on of intelligent systems and
technologies ould be put to use for profound impact –
smarter power grid, smarter food systems, smarter water,
smarter healthcare, smarter traffic systems.
• Robots
3
• Technologies for intelligence
• Control and automa@on
• Processes for smart design
• Systems engineering

4. Department
Of
Automatic Control & Systems Engineering.
Controller
Actuator
Aircraft Engine Operation – a cartoon view
4
System Sensor
Output Input

5. Department
Of
Automatic Control & Systems Engineering.
Control Systems Structure
5
SystemActuator Sensor
Controller
Output Input

6. Department
Of
Automatic Control & Systems Engineering.
Industrial Robots
6
System
Actuator
(Electric/
Pneumatic
Drives)
Sensors
(Force,
Position,
Velocity)
Controller
Output Input

7. Department
Of
Automatic Control & Systems Engineering.
Systems Engineering V – Control Design
• Test
7
Image from: www.eeweb.com

8. Department
Of
Automatic Control & Systems Engineering.
Healthcare Application of Embedded Control
• Electrical s@mula@on treatment
for epilepsy
• Modelling from iEEG signals
8
brain model
controller
-
+
therapy
iEEG
afferents (unknown input)
estimate of parameters

9. Department
Of
Automatic Control & Systems Engineering.
Complex Systems Design - Aircraft
• Blended wing body concept by NASA
9
• Combined gas turbine
and electrical
propulsion
• Communica@on
between engines
• Distributed control
for flight manoeuvres
• Engine aircraO
integra@on
• Cer@fica@on

10. Department
Of
Automatic Control & Systems Engineering.
Complex Systems Design - Vehicle
10
Structures
Electronics
NVH
CFD
Cost
MDO: Multidisciplinary design
optimization
• Design chief
engineer with final
decision-making
• Design teams at
func@onal level
• Supported by
extensive models
• One step design
difficult
• Model integra@on
• Compu@ng @me

11. Department
Of
Automatic Control & Systems Engineering.
11
Debate targets
High-level
design
High-level
design
High-level
design
High-level
design
Detailed design
Detailed design
Detailed design
Detailed design
Combine
designs and
debate targets
rework
Robust Optimisation for Design

12. Department
Of
Automatic Control & Systems Engineering.
Cyber Physical Systems
12
Control
Commu
nication
Comput
ation
Information
Vehicle management system
- millions of lines of software
Images from: www.ee.nd.edu,pinterest.com
Exoskeleton for wrist
- human in the loop

13. Department
Of
Automatic Control & Systems Engineering.
Aircraft Engine as a CPS
13
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
Number of flight (normalised)
TGTmargin(normalised)
action warning threshold
failure warning threshold
current time
Architecture
& System
Modelling and
Optimisation
Condition
Monitoring
Decision
making
technology
Adaption &
Control
Wireless
Sensor
Systems

14. Department
Of
Automatic Control & Systems Engineering.
Autonomous Intelligent Systems
14
Sensor
Exploitation
Situational
Awareness
Mission
Planning
Decision
Making
Learning /
Adaptation
Self healing
Software / System
Architectures
Verification and
Validation

15. Department
Of
Automatic Control & Systems Engineering.
Autonomous Driverless Vehicles
Level 0 –
Driver in
complete and
sole control
Level 1 –
Driver can
regain
control
Level 2 –
Driver has
temporary
driving relief
Level 3 –
Driver
available to
take control
Level 4 –
Driver not
expected to
take control
15
Image from: sciencepble.com

16. Department
Of
Automatic Control & Systems Engineering.
Bioinspired Robotics
16

17. Department
Of
Automatic Control & Systems Engineering.
Applications for Robots
17

18. Department
Of
Automatic Control & Systems Engineering.
Summary
• Smarter planet (eg. Transport) need
• Control Engineering – a hidden technology that plays
significant roles in applica@ons.
• Systems Engineering – a process that underlies the
importance of modelling, control and op@misa@on.
• Robo@cs – machines that deliver complete func@onality.
• Systems Engineering themes iden@fy relevant
func@onal characteris@cs in applica@ons
• Cyber physical systems
• Autonomous intelligent systems
• Complex systems
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