This page describes the research at the Fachgebiet Regelungssysteme (Control Systems Group) at TU Berlin and the Fachgruppe System- und Regelungstheorie (Systems and Control Theory Group) at the Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems. Both groups are lead by Jörg Raisch and - in practice - operate as a unit.

Our research interests are - not surprisingly - in the area of Systems and Control. Systems and Control Theory (SCT) has been recognised as a research area in its own right for several decades. Roughly speaking, its subject is the analysis and synthesis of dynamical systems, in particular the design of control systems. As a result, SCT provides an array of analysis and synthesis methods and tools which have been successfully applied to solve a great number of application problems. Additionally, it has served as a bridge between a variety of application areas, e.g., chemical engineering, mechanical and manufacturing engineering, economics, biology, etc. By translating specific application problems into a unique mathematical framework, SCT provides a common language that allows scientists and engineers with extremely diverse technical backgrounds to communicate and hence generates considerable synergy effects.

This general perspective of SCT is reflected in our research interests. We address both challenging problems from the "core domain" of SCT and - often in cooperation with other research groups - problems from a number of application areas. We try to keep a good balance between the former ("control theory") and the latter ("control applications") kind of projects. We also attempt to match projects in the sense that results obtained from theoretical work are immediately transferred into specific application projects.

The following figure provides a survey on our research projects. Note that they are grouped into "project areas", which were defined to structure the overall research activities at the MPI for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems. Naturally, our group's level of activity is not the same in all these research areas, and not all projects fit equally well into these areas.

Hybrid and Discrete Event Systems

• Hybrid Control Systems
  • Abstraction-based Hybrid Control Synthesis
  • Optimal Control of Hybrid Systems
  • Stability Analysis of Switched Systems
• Modeling and Control of HTS Systems
• Automatic Start-Up of Chemical Processes
• Consensus-Based Cooperative Control
• Event- and Self-Triggered Control
• Controlled Functional Electric Stimulation for Rehabilitation Purposes
  • Iterative Learning Control of FES-Assisted Gait Training / Drop Foot Stimulator
  • Bioimpedance controlled neuro-prosthesis to support swallowing
• IMU-Based Gait Detection and Gait Analysis

Hierarchical Structures

• Hierarchical Control Theory
• Control Concepts for Microgrids

Integrated Processes

• Diffusion and Reaction Processes inside Catalyst Particles

Population Balance Systems

• Trajectory Planning and Control of Preferential Crystallization Processes
• Model Reduction and Control of 2D Crystallization Processes
• Control of Continuously Operated Crystallisers (currently not active)
• Control of Batch Crystallisers (currently not active)

Nonlinear Dynamics

• Control of Catalytic Fixed-Bed Loop Reactors
• Optimal Steady State and Transient Operation of SMB Chromatographic Processes
• Adsorption Equilibria and Ideal Adsorbed Solution Theory
• Active Vibration Control of a Light and Flexible Stress Ribbon Footbridge using Pneumatic Muscles

Network Theory

• Qualitative Properties of Biochemical Reaction Networks