Institute

The Institute for Systems Dynamics was founded in 2005 and has established itself over the years as a renowned partner in research and industry.

Fields of competence

System analysis and control are at the center of all research and teaching activities at the Institute for System Dynamics. Emphasis is put on the development and application of methods in system theory, simulation, control and optimization.

Methods

Modeling

In many engineering projects, modeling of dynamic systems can be regarded as the first step. The associated challenge is reproducing the system dynamics with satisfying accuracy while at the same time keeping the model complexity as low as possible. A large part of our modeling expertise lies in the field of distributed parameter systems, where the system states do not only depend on time, but also on space (one-, two- or even three-dimensional). This research area also focuses on model order reduction techniques needed to reduce high dimensional models to low dimensional models suited for control design.

Methods

Identification

The theoretical task of deriving mathematical models of differential equations is strongly connected with the rather practical task of validation and identification of these models. This requires to determine the dominant dynamics, as well as to parametrize and to validate this choice using measurements taken from the real system. The institute’s broad expertise in the field of optimization is widely applied for the algorithms we use to accomplish these tasks.

Methods

Model Order Reduction

High order models e.g. resulting from the Finite Element Method are unsuitable for the design of an observer or a controller. At ISYS, model order reduction methods are therefore applied to reduce the system order siginificantly while conserving the dominant and/or interesting features of the originial systems. There exists a number of different approaches depending on the type of analysis (structural or thermal) and whether parameters are to be conserved in the reduced model.

Methods

Simulation

Methods and tools for the simulation of dynamic systems are an important part of our projects, but also of our teaching. A model-based strategy allows for a fast and efficient control design.

Methods

Signal Processing

The input and output of any controller, observer, and plant, as well as their respective models, can be described as a signal. For this reason, the methods of signal processing are key in control engineering research and being taught in basic and advanced classes and labs on analog and digital signal processing.

Methods

Optimization

Optimization and optimal control methods are a major part of our research. To derive and implement optimal feedforward control and/or model predictive control algorithms is the main objective in teaching and research in this field at ISYS.

Methods

Synthesis

Trajectory generation methods as well as control laws based on the application of differential geometry are long-term fields of research at ISYS.
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Automotive

Applications

Automotive

The ISYS Automotive Research Group is engaged in the development of electric, mechanical, thermal and fluidic systems within the automotive sector. Our research is focused on the application of novel methods in modeling and system analysis as well as linear/nonlinear control and optimization.
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Drive Systems and Robotics

Applications

Drive Systems and Robotics

Cutting edge, efficient drive systems are a decisive competitive factor and conserving resources is an ongoing issue. Hence, the group drive and energy systems deals with design, control and optimization of hydraulic, pneumatic and electric drive systems. For this purpose, it relies particularly on methods from the fields modelling, control and optimization.
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Civil Systems Engineering

Applications

Civil Systems Engineering

The civil systems engineering group of the institute is dealing with problems related to system dynamics in the field of the building industry. The research projects are caried out in close cooperation with partners from the domain of civil engineering and architecture.
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Large Scale Robotics

Applications

Large Scale Robotics

The Large Scale Robotics Team of the ISYS works on solutions for problems occurring in the field of machines with large working spaces concerning the system's dynamics, like turntable ladders of fire trucks, different types of cranes, elevators or flight simulators. The use-oriented questions are dealt with in close cooperation with the respective industrial partner.
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Medical Engineering

Applications

Medical Engineering

The ISYS medical engineering team is involved with modeling, simulation, control, state estimation and optimization of medical engineering applications. We cooperate with physicians of the Universitätsklinikum Tübingen and medical technology companies. Our work is part of the Inter-University Center for Medical Technology Stuttgart-Tübingen (IZST [german webpage]).
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Optomechatronics

Applications

Optomechatronics

The research of the Optomechatronics group at ISYS is focused on control solutions for optical systems. Unique active and adaptive optics are used to alter the optical imaging properties systematically. Important fields of our research include modeling of optical and mechatronic systems, control of those, but also high precision control of mechanical drives.
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Process Technology

Applications

Process Technology

The process engineering group is involved in industrial continuous transport and conditioning processes, high volume air conditioning, closed loop steam processes for mobile applications and river reach and canal management. In all of these fields of application, distributed parameter systems and methods are used for modelling, simulation, feedforward and feedback control design.

History

Institute for System Dynamics and Control (ISR)

The ISR was the first control engineering institute of the Stuttgart Mechanical Engineering and was headed by Prof. Dr.-Ing. E.D. Gilles from 1968 to 2005. After his appointment as founding director of the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems in Magdeburg, Prof. Gilles has been a part-time head of the ISR since 1997. 1979 and 1989 the professorships for "Control Engineering" and "Process Control Engineering in Process and Biochemical Engineering" were established at the ISR and taken over by Prof. Dr.-Ing. M. Zeitz until 2005 and Prof. Dr.-Ing. H. Wehlan until 2014.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. E.D. Gilles (c)
Prof. Dr.-Ing. E.D. Gilles
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H. Wehlan (c)
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H. Wehlan
Prof. Dr.-Ing. O. Sawodny (c)
Prof. Dr.-Ing. M. Zeitz

The ISR played a major role in the establishment and further development of the Engineering Cybernetics study program in 1971. In connection with the founding of the Max Planck Institute in Magdeburg and the associated dual function of Prof. Gilles, the Institute for Systems Theory of Technical Processes, which was renamed the Institute for Systems Theory and Control Engineering (IST) in 2005, was established to strengthen the teaching unit Engineering Cybernetics. Since 1999 Prof. Dr.-Ing. F. Allgöwer has been the head of the IST.

In addition to the development and application of control engineering methods, the research areas of the ISR included modelling, simulation, dynamic analysis and management of technical processes with a focus on process engineering, bioprocess engineering and systems biology. The ISR was also nationally and internationally known for various large-scale projects in the field of traffic automation on inland waterways, which have led to two successful spin-offs by former doctoral students.

Institute for System Dynamics (ISYS)

The Institute for System Dynamics (ISYS), led by Prof. Dr.-Ing. O. Sawodny since 2005 has emerged from the Institute for System Dynamics and Control (ISR).

The research concept of the ISYS aims for the practical implementation of theoretical results - mostly in cooperation with academic and industrial partners. The scopes of application are related to process technology and biology as well as mechatronics, traffic and medical engineering. The courses offered by the ISYS are primarily made for graduate programs which are part of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Stuttgart. Additionally, the ISYS was principally in charge of the establishment of the inter-university degree program Medical Engineering in collaboration with the University of Tübingen in 2010. In 2009, Dr.-Ing. C. Tarin took over the professorship for "process control engineering” created by the BMBF in the context of the Women Professors Program at the ISYS.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. O. Sawodny (c)
Prof. Dr.-Ing. O. Sawodny
Prof. Dr.-Ing. C. Tarin (c)
Prof. Dr.-Ing. C. Tarín

The ISYS was located at Pfaffenwaldring 9 on the Vaihingen campus until the fire on 15 June 2014, when almost all of the institute's office and laboratory facilities were destroyed. Subsequently, the ISYS moved into an office floor rented from the university at Waldburgstraße 17+19 near the Vaihingen S-Bahn station.

Research Collaborations

Since the formation of the institute in 2005 numerous projects have been successfully completed here at the ISYS among which were a wealth of publicly funded projects as well as industrial collaborations. In cooperation with renowned partners from industry and research practically relevant solutions with scientifically sound basis were developed.

Partners (Selection)

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