Measurements and Control Laboratory

Prof. Hans P. Geering, Prof. Lino Guzzella

Main Goals of Lectures and Research:

On the theory side of his research, Prof. Geering focuses on optimal control, nonlinear control, and robust control. In applications, his research focuses primarily on digital control of gasoline engines in automobiles, of helicopters and heatpump heating systems, as well as on the application of control methodology in the mathematics of finance. Prof. Geering is a Fellow of IEEE and an Associate Fellow of AIAA.

Fuel Cell Technology in a Car – it is Safe, Compact, Very Efficient, and Clean. At the Shell Eco-Marathon 2003 in France, the first hydrogen-powered vehicle ever successfully completed the race with a hydrogen consumption of just 15.9 g / 100 km, which is energetically equivalent to over 1'700 km / liter of gasoline. PAC-Car ran the race without any problems and of course very quietly. The figure shows the PAC-Car vehicle as it completed the races in 2003 and 2004. In 2004, PAC-Car received the alternative energy award for finishing in first place of three hydrogen-powered vehicles with a fuel equivalent of 1'956 km / liter of gasoline. Even better results are the aim of the Eco-Marathon in 2005.

Prof. Guzzella's current research interests include modeling, control, and model-based optimization of mechatronic and energy systems using nonlinear approaches. The primary aim of his Engine Systems Group within the Laboratory is to contribute to the reduction of fuel consumption and of engine emissions. In teaching, Lino Guzzella is especially interested in fostering cooperative and project-oriented learning techniques.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. There is hardly a research application that better exemplifies the combination of robust, optimal, and nonlinear control concepts than a model helicopter in free flight, without the control of a human pilot. This figure shows a model helicopter developed at the Measurement and Control Laboratory in autonomous flight.

Inertial Measurement Unit: the figure depicts the inertial measurement unit which permits an entire mission to be flown autonomously. This unit is produced and marketed by weControl GmbH, a spin-off of ETH.