Research
  • Hybrid Systems
Hybrid systems are dynamic systems that combine continuous dynamics modeled by differential (or difference) equations and discrete      dynamics modeled by finite automata.  The continuous dynamics models physical systems and the discrete dynamics represents logical      components such as computer software that controls the physical systems (e.g., robots, aircraft, etc). Therefore, hybrid systems can model many complex systems such as robotics, embedded systems, traffic systems, and biological systems.  The research topics include:
    • Modeling, analysis, and control of deterministic/stochastic hybrid systems
    • State estimation of hybrid systems: compute both the continuous and discrete state estimates at the same time.
    • Information inference (or system identification) for hybrid systems
    • Reachability analysis and computation for nonlinear/hybrid systems
    • Fault Detection and Isolation (FDI) for stochastic hybrid systems
Sponsor: NSF (CAREER Award CNS-0746299)

  • Air Traffic Control
The Air Traffic Control (ATC) system is responsible for safe air traffic operations of both commercial and general aviation within the        nation's airspace. Even though the ATC has managed air traffic with a strong safety record over the past several decades, the system does suffer from the occasional serious accident. Due to the continuous growth of air traffic, airborne delays and ground holds have become common today and will increase rapidly in the near future unless there are changes to the equipment and structure of the current ATC. The pressure for changes in the ATC system originates from three primary sources: the need for improved safety and efficiency; the availability of new technology; and the desire to support the air traffic controllers. The current airspace called National Airspace System (NAS) has a rigid, centralized structure, and aircraft are required to follow predefined airways or instructions given by controllers. Due to recent advances in navigation and data communication technologies such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), and a new data link between aircraft and between aircraft and ground controllers known as Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), it may be plausible in near future for aircraft to fly their own trajectories instead of predefined paths in the NAS. The research topics include:
    • Autonomous conflict detection and resolution
    • Air traffic surveillance
    • Pilot's intent inference and conformance monitoring
    • Airspace security monitoring and safety verification
    • Safe interface/cockpit design
    • Future Airspace Systems Design: Mixed airspace, Highway-in-the-sky.
    • Traffic Flow Management: Scheduling and sequencing for arrival traffic and throughput metric development
    • Dyanmic Airspace Configuration (DAC) for en route and terminal airspace
Sponsor: NASA, Mosaic ATM, and FAA

  • Multiple Vehicle Control
    • Formation flying of UAVs and Satellites
    • Multiple Robot Coordination: Simultaneous Localization and Map Building
    • Multiple Target Tracking and Identity Management
    • Battlefield surveillance

  • Cyber-secure Autopilot Design for UAV Systems
    • Threats and Vulnerabilities Identification
    • Numerical Analysis of Cyber Vulnerabilities
    • Analytical Analysis of  Cyber Vulnerabilities
    • Development of Simulation test-bed
Sponsor: Sypris

  • Space Applications
  • Interplantory optimal low thrust orbit transfer
  • Tracking and discrimination of Non-Keplerian spacecraft
Sponsor: DARPA
  • Other Research Area
    • System-of-Systems
    • Sensor Networks
    • Decentralized Estimation and Control of Large Scale Dynamical Systems
    • Fault Detection and Identification and Health Monitoring of Structural Systems
    • Biological Systems Modeling, Analysis, and Simulations

  • UAV Flight Test Results
movie1: flight test movie
animated movie1, animated movie2: MATLAB movies showing post flight data
Software and Data for DAC