Multi-Physical Modeling
Optimal design & robust control through multi-physical modeling.
Our work involves the development of state-of-art modeling and simulation tools for complex, heterogeneous systems. We apply these models for the optimal design and robust control of a variety of systems including HVAC systems, zero-energy buildings, automobiles, and robotic systems.
Quick Links
-
Researchers
-
Awards
-
AWARD Best Paper Award at SDEMPED 2023 Date: August 30, 2023
Awarded to: Bingnan Wang, Hiroshi Inoue, and Makoto Kanemaru
MERL Contact: Bingnan Wang
Research Areas: Applied Physics, Data Analytics, Multi-Physical ModelingBrief- MERL and Mitsubishi Electric's paper titled “Motor Eccentricity Fault Detection: Physics-Based and Data-Driven Approaches” was awarded one of three best paper awards at the 14th IEEE International Symposium on Diagnostics for Electric Machines, Power Electronics and Drives (SDEMPED 2023). MERL Senior Principal Research Scientist Bingnan Wang presented the paper and received the award at the symposium. Co-authors of the paper include Mitsubishi Electric researchers Hiroshi Inoue and Makoto Kanemaru.
SDEMPED was established as the only international symposium entirely devoted to the diagnostics of electrical machines, power electronics and drives. It is now a regular biennial event. The 14th version, SDEMPED 2023 was held in Chania, Greece from August 28th to 31st, 2023.
- MERL and Mitsubishi Electric's paper titled “Motor Eccentricity Fault Detection: Physics-Based and Data-Driven Approaches” was awarded one of three best paper awards at the 14th IEEE International Symposium on Diagnostics for Electric Machines, Power Electronics and Drives (SDEMPED 2023). MERL Senior Principal Research Scientist Bingnan Wang presented the paper and received the award at the symposium. Co-authors of the paper include Mitsubishi Electric researchers Hiroshi Inoue and Makoto Kanemaru.
See All Awards for MERL -
-
News & Events
-
NEWS MERL researchers present 9 papers at ACC 2024 Date: July 10, 2024 - July 12, 2024
Where: Toronto, Canada
MERL Contacts: Ankush Chakrabarty; Vedang M. Deshpande; Stefano Di Cairano; Christopher R. Laughman; Arvind Raghunathan; Abraham P. Vinod; Yebin Wang; Avishai Weiss
Research Areas: Artificial Intelligence, Control, Dynamical Systems, Machine Learning, Multi-Physical Modeling, Optimization, RoboticsBrief- MERL researchers presented 9 papers at the recently concluded American Control Conference (ACC) 2024 in Toronto, Canada. The papers covered a wide range of topics including data-driven spatial monitoring using heterogenous robots, aircraft approach management near airports, computation fluid dynamics-based motion planning for drones facing winds, trajectory planning for coordinated monitoring using a team of drones and a ground carrier vehicle, ensemble Kalman smoothing-based model predictive control for motion planning for autonomous vehicles, system identification for Lithium-ion batteries, physics-constrained deep Kalman filters for vapor compression systems, switched reference governors for constrained systems, and distributed road-map monitoring using onboard sensors.
As a sponsor of the conference, MERL maintained a booth for open discussions with researchers and students, and hosted a special session to discuss highlights of MERL research and work philosophy.
In addition, Abraham Vinod served as a panelist at the Student Networking Event at the conference. The student networking event provides an opportunity for all interested students to network with professionals working in industry, academia, and national laboratories during a structured event, and encourages their continued participation as the future leaders in the field.
- MERL researchers presented 9 papers at the recently concluded American Control Conference (ACC) 2024 in Toronto, Canada. The papers covered a wide range of topics including data-driven spatial monitoring using heterogenous robots, aircraft approach management near airports, computation fluid dynamics-based motion planning for drones facing winds, trajectory planning for coordinated monitoring using a team of drones and a ground carrier vehicle, ensemble Kalman smoothing-based model predictive control for motion planning for autonomous vehicles, system identification for Lithium-ion batteries, physics-constrained deep Kalman filters for vapor compression systems, switched reference governors for constrained systems, and distributed road-map monitoring using onboard sensors.
-
NEWS Ankush Chakrabarty gave a lecture at UT-Austin's Seminar Series on Occupant-Centric Grid-Interactive Buildings Date: March 20, 2024
Where: Austin, TX
MERL Contact: Ankush Chakrabarty
Research Areas: Artificial Intelligence, Control, Data Analytics, Dynamical Systems, Machine Learning, Multi-Physical Modeling, OptimizationBrief- Ankush Chakrabarty, Principal Research Scientist in the Multiphysical Systems Team, was invited to speak as a guest lecturer in the seminar series on "Occupant-Centric Grid Interactive Buildings" in the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering (CAEE) at the University of Texas at Austin.
The talk, entitled "Deep Generative Networks and Fine-Tuning for Net-Zero Energy Buildings" described lessons learned from MERL's recent research on generative models for building simulation and control, along with meta-learning for on-the-fly fine-tuning to adapt and optimize energy expenditure.
- Ankush Chakrabarty, Principal Research Scientist in the Multiphysical Systems Team, was invited to speak as a guest lecturer in the seminar series on "Occupant-Centric Grid Interactive Buildings" in the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering (CAEE) at the University of Texas at Austin.
See All News & Events for Multi-Physical Modeling -
-
Internships
-
MS0106: Internship - Optimal Control of Multiphysical Systems
MERL seeks a qualified, highly-motivated graduate student for an internship in the area of systems-level dynamic modeling, analysis and optimal control of next-generation thermofluid systems used in heating, cooling and ventilation (HVAC) applications. HVAC systems for applications such as data centers or district heating and cooling are characterized as dynamic networks, described by a large sets of differential and algebraic equations expressing physics (conservation laws), together with discrete and continuous equations describing the action of control. These are large scale, hybrid, constrained nonlinear systems. The MS group at MERL invites qualified graduate students to join its efforts in system level dynamic modeling, analysis and especially control of these systems. The research results are expected to impact both development of new products at Mitsubishi Electric, and also be published in leading conferences and journals.
Required Specific Experience
- Strong education and experience with nonlinear differential-algebraic equations is required.
- Strong education and working knowledge of optimal and nonlinear control theory is required.
- Knowledge of mathematical methods for hybrid systems is an asset.
- Some experience with thermofluid systems is an asset.
-
MS0098: Internship - Control and Estimation for Large=Scale Thermofluid Systems
MERL is seeking a motivated graduate student to research methods for state and parameter estimation and optimization of large-scale systems for process applications. Representative applications include large vapor-compression cycles and other multiphysical systems for energy conversion that couple thermodynamic, fluid, and electrical domains. The ideal candidate would have a solid background in control and estimation, numerical methods, and optimization; strong programming skills and experience with Julia/Python/Matlab are also expected. Knowledge of the fundamental physics of thermofluid flows (e.g., thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics), nonlinear dynamics, or equation-oriented languages (Modelica, gPROMS) is a plus. The expected duration of this internship is 3 months.
-
EA0073: Internship - Fault Detection for Electric Machines
MERL is seeking a motivated and qualified individual to conduct research on electric machine fault analysis and detection methods. Ideal candidates should be Ph.D. students with a solid background and publication record in one more research area on electric machines: electric and magnetic modeling, machine design and prototyping, harmonic analysis, fault detection, and predictive maintenance. Knowledge on data analysis and machine learning algorithms, and strong programming skills using Python/PyTorch are expected. Research experience on modeling and analysis of electric machines and fault diagnosis is desired. Senior Ph.D. students in related expertise, such as electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and applied physics are encouraged to apply. Start date for this internship is flexible and the duration is 3 months.
See All Internships for Multi-Physical Modeling -
-
Recent Publications
- "AI-assisted Field Plate Design of GaN HEMT Device", Advanced Theory and Simulation, October 2024.BibTeX TR2024-152 PDF
- @article{Xiang2024oct,
- author = {Xiang, Xiaofeng and Palash, Rafid and Yagyu, Eiji and Dunham, Scott and Teo, Koon Hoo and Chowdhury, Nadim}},
- title = {AI-assisted Field Plate Design of GaN HEMT Device},
- journal = {Advanced Theory and Simulation},
- year = 2024,
- month = oct,
- url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2024-152}
- }
, - "Fluid Property Functions in Polar and Parabolic Coordinates", American Modelica Conference, October 2024.BibTeX TR2024-144 PDF
- @inproceedings{Bortoff2024oct,
- author = {Bortoff, Scott A. and Laughman, Christopher R. and Deshpande, Vedang M. and Qiao, Hongtao}},
- title = {Fluid Property Functions in Polar and Parabolic Coordinates},
- booktitle = {American Modelica Conference},
- year = 2024,
- month = oct,
- url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2024-144}
- }
, - "Integrating Generative Machine Learning Models and Physics-Based Models for Building Energy Simulation", American Modelica Conference, October 2024.BibTeX TR2024-140 PDF
- @inproceedings{Vanfretti2024oct,
- author = {Vanfretti, Luigi and Laughman, Christopher R. and Chakrabarty, Ankush}},
- title = {Integrating Generative Machine Learning Models and Physics-Based Models for Building Energy Simulation},
- booktitle = {American Modelica Conference},
- year = 2024,
- month = oct,
- url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2024-140}
- }
, - "Supervised Contrastive Learning for Electric Motor Bearing Fault Detection", International Conference on Electrical Machines (ICEM), September 2024.BibTeX TR2024-120 PDF
- @inproceedings{Zhang2024sep,
- author = {Zhang, Hengrui and Wang, Bingnan}},
- title = {Supervised Contrastive Learning for Electric Motor Bearing Fault Detection},
- booktitle = {International Conference on Electrical Machines (ICEM)},
- year = 2024,
- month = sep,
- url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2024-120}
- }
, - "Assessing Building Control Performance Using Physics-Based Simulation Models and Deep Generative Networks", IEEE Conference on Control Technology and Applications (CCTA) 2024, DOI: 10.1109/CCTA60707.2024.10666585, August 2024.BibTeX TR2024-113 PDF
- @inproceedings{Chakrabarty2024aug,
- author = {Chakrabarty, Ankush and Vanfretti, Luigi and Bortoff, Scott A. and Deshpande, Vedang M. and Wang, Ye and Paulson, Joel A. and Zhan, Sicheng and Laughman, Christopher R.}},
- title = {Assessing Building Control Performance Using Physics-Based Simulation Models and Deep Generative Networks},
- booktitle = {IEEE Conference on Control Technology and Applications (CCTA) 2024},
- year = 2024,
- month = aug,
- doi = {10.1109/CCTA60707.2024.10666585},
- url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2024-113}
- }
, - "Control Co-Design for Electric Vehicles with Driving Cycle Synthesis Encoding Road Traffic and Driver Characteristics", IEEE Conference on Control Technology and Applications (CCTA) 2024, DOI: 10.1109/CCTA60707.2024.10666575, August 2024.BibTeX TR2024-114 PDF
- @inproceedings{Park2024aug,
- author = {Park, Seho and Wang, Yebin and Qiao, Hongtao and Sakamoto, Yusuke and Wang, Bingnan and Liu, Dehong}},
- title = {Control Co-Design for Electric Vehicles with Driving Cycle Synthesis Encoding Road Traffic and Driver Characteristics},
- booktitle = {IEEE Conference on Control Technology and Applications (CCTA) 2024},
- year = 2024,
- month = aug,
- doi = {10.1109/CCTA60707.2024.10666575},
- url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2024-114}
- }
, - "Modeling and Control of a Multi-Mode Heat Pump", IEEE Conference on Control Technology and Applications (CCTA) 2024, August 2024.BibTeX TR2024-111 PDF
- @inproceedings{Bortoff2024aug,
- author = {{Bortoff, Scott A. and Qiao, Hongtao and Laughman, Christopher R.}},
- title = {Modeling and Control of a Multi-Mode Heat Pump},
- booktitle = {IEEE Conference on Control Technology and Applications (CCTA) 2024},
- year = 2024,
- month = aug,
- url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2024-111}
- }
, - "Power System Modeling for Identification and Control Applications using Modelica and OpenIPSL", Conference on Control Technology and Applications (CCTA), August 2024.BibTeX TR2024-112 PDF
- @inproceedings{Vanfretti2024aug,
- author = {{Vanfretti, Luigi and Laughman, Christopher R.}},
- title = {Power System Modeling for Identification and Control Applications using Modelica and OpenIPSL},
- booktitle = {Conference on Control Technology and Applications (CCTA)},
- year = 2024,
- month = aug,
- url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2024-112}
- }
,
- "AI-assisted Field Plate Design of GaN HEMT Device", Advanced Theory and Simulation, October 2024.
-
Videos