CDC 2016 Workshop

The Power, Beauty and Excitement of the Cross-Boundaries Nature of Control, a Field that Spans Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)

Monday, December 12, 2016
9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Las Vegas, NV

In conjunction with the
55th Conference on Decision and Control
December 12-14, 2016

Sponsors: University of Kansas

Organizing and Program Committee: Bozenna Pasik-Duncan (University of Kansas), Linda Bushnell (University of Washington), Sebastian Dormido (UNED, Madrid, Spain)

Assisted by: Dominique Duncan (University of Southern California), and Sebastian Trimpe (Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems)

Local Organizer: Shirley McLees-Kaplan Magnet Coordinator Clark High School

Introduction: Feedback control is a vital component of many common devices and systems but is usually hidden from view. Without feedback control, devices such as computer hard drives, DVD players, motor car engine management and anti-lock braking systems, and aircraft auto pilots would simply not work. The control field, which spans science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), has contributed to human development since before the Industrial Revolution (where the control of mills and steam engines were important developments) through to the present day. Its continuing success depends on attracting the most gifted young people to the profession.

The IFAC Technical Committee on Control Education strives to bring control system concepts and technologies to the awareness of high school students and their teachers. The goal of this outreach effort is to promote an increased awareness of the importance and cross-disciplinary nature of control and systems technology.

Abstract: This outreach event is designed to increase the general awareness of the importance of systems and control technology and its cross-disciplinary nature among high school students and teachers. Control is used in many common devices and systems: cell phones, computer hard drives, automobiles, and aircraft, but is usually hidden from view. The control field spans science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The success of all STEM disciplines depends on attracting the most gifted young people to science and engineering professions. Early exposure to middle and high school students and their teachers is a key factor. The goal of these outreach efforts is to promote an increased awareness of the importance and cross-disciplinary nature of control and systems technology.

The workshop activities include presentations by control systems experts from our technical community, informal discussions, and the opportunity for teachers and students to meet passionate researchers and educators from academia and industry. The talks are designed to be educational, inspirational and entertaining showing the excitement of controls.

Invited speakers include: Daniel Abramovitch, Dennis Bernstein, John Baillieul, Christos Cassandras, Andrew Clark, Frank Doyle, Munther Dahleh, Dominique Duncan, Elisa Franco, Richard Murray, Kayham Ozcimder, Sebastian Trimpe, Angela Schoellig.

Lunch will be provided. Participants will receive certificates of participation