Exploring the Control and Prediction Horizons of Multi-scale Integrated Dynamic Systems

Abstract: With the growing demands for high-performance control systems, Model Predictive Control (MPC) has gained popularity as onboard computational resources become more affordable. Within this optimization-based framework, the prediction and control horizons play a pivotal role in determining control performance, computational feasibility, and the predictive information required. For multi-physical and multi-scale integrated systems, the horizon is a critical parameter that can be exploited to manage the intricate temporally and spatially coupled dynamics. In this talk, we will explore the theoretical foundations that guide the selection of various horizons and discuss methods for balancing trade-offs between performance and computational demands. A multi-horizon MPC and its applications to integrated thermal and power management for connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) will be highlighted to illustrate how varying horizon lengths provide the mechanisms to optimize control strategies while addressing the unique challenges of complex, interconnected, and constrained systems.

Bio: Jing Sun received her Ph. D degree from the University of Southern California in 1989 and her master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Science and Technology of China in 1984 and 1982, respectively. From 1989 to 1993, she was an assistant professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Wayne State University. She joined Ford Research Laboratory in 1993, working on advanced powertrain system controls. After spending almost ten years in the industry, she returned to academia in 2003. She joined the University of Michigan, where she is the Michael G. Parsons Collegiate Professor in the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department, with joint appointments in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department and Mechanical Engineering Department at the same university. She holds 45 U.S. patents and has published over 300 archived journal and conference papers. She is a Fellow of NAI (the National Academy of Inventors), IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), IFAC (International Federation of Automatic Control), and SNAME (the Society of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering). She is a recipient of the 2003 IEEE Control System Technology Award.