Research
Research Interest 1
My research interests are in the development of experimentally based control methods for automotive engine and powertrain systems, where modelling is difficult because of uncertainty in the physics.
My Powertrain Control Laboratory includes both chassis and engine dynamometer facilities. I am interested in both identification and robust linear and nonlinear control methods. A recent exciting development of mine is the use of nonparameteric methods for nonlinear H-infinity control. I am currently exploring this approach in an engine control project.
My colleague Dr Geoff Dearden and I are currently working with the Ford Motor Co. on laser ignition in gasoline engines and in a recent development have validated the system using both the Liverpool and Ford-Merkinich engine dynamometers.
Research grants
Automotive-Powertrain Dynamometer: Modelling of Engine-Transmission Interaction for Fuelling-Emissions Control.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
June 1999 - May 2002
Automotive Engine Dynamometer and Instrumentation: In-Cylinder Pressure Feedback for Emissions Control.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
July 2001 - July 2004
Making Decisions in Time--From Markov Decision Processes to Markov Game Structures
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2010 - November 2013
Towards In-Combustion-Event Feedback (ICEF) Control by Laser Ignition
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
August 2012 - March 2016
Research collaborations
Prof J. E. Mottershead
Work on the development of modal feedback control methods including pole placement methods from receptance tests.
Dr. Geoffrey Dearden
The LASIIC project; A joint research DTI-LINK grant on laser ignition in gasoline automotive internal combustion engines.
Prof W.A.Steen
Control of laser welding in continuos welding processes.