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Pao, Lucy Y

Professor and Palmer Chair

Positions

Research Areas research areas

Research

research overview

  • Professor Pao's research interests are in control systems (with applications to flexible structures, disk drives, atomic force microscopes, near-field scanning optical lithography systems, tape drives, wind turbines and wind farms, and power systems); multisensor fusion (with applications to unmanned autonomous vehicles, satellites, and automotive active safety systems); and multimodal visual/haptic/audio interfaces (with applications to scientific visualization and spatial communication). The dominant application focus is currently on wind energy systems, ranging from the design and control of extreme-scale and novel wind turbine configurations as well as the control of floating offshore wind turbines and wind farms. She is especially fascinated by common properties and characteristics of systems found across different types of systems in disparate application areas.

keywords

  • control of flexible structures, combined feedforward and feedback control, nonminimum phase systems, multisensor fusion

Publications

selected publications

Teaching

courses taught

  • ECEA 5800 - Control Systems Analysis: Modeling of Dynamic Systems
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2023 / Spring 2024
    Covers differential equation derivation to model systems, solving these equations through Laplace transforms to determine transfer functions for simple mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical systems. We will analyze 1st and 2nd-order system dynamic responses, and explore approximating higher-order systems with 1st to 3rd-order systems. Also covered, Bounded-Input Bounded-Output (BIBO) stability, plus designing and evaluating proportional, integral, and derivative controllers.
  • ECEN 4138 - Control Systems Analysis
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023
    Analysis and design of continuous time control systems using classical and state space methods. Laplace transforms, transfer functions and block diagrams. Stability, dynamic response, and steady-state analysis. Analysis and design of control systems using root locus and frequency response methods. Computer aided design and analysis. Department enforced prerequisite: background in Laplace transforms, linear algebra,and ordinary differential equations. Same as ECEN 5138.
  • ECEN 5138 - Control Systems Analysis
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023
    Analysis and design of continuous time control systems using classical and state space methods. Laplace transforms, transfer functions and block diagrams. Stability, dynamic response, and steady-state analysis. Analysis and design of control systems using root locus and frequency response methods. Computer aided design and analysis. Topics covered in this course will be investigated in more depth, require external readings, additional homework will be assigned, and the exams will be more difficult. Recommended prerequisite: ECEN 3300. Same as ECEN 4138.
  • ECEN 5458 - Sampled Data and Digital Control Systems
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2018 / Spring 2019 / Spring 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2022
    Provides an analysis and synthesis of discrete-time systems. Studies sampling theorem and sampling process characterization, z-transform theory and z-transferfunction, and stability theory. Involves data converters (A/D and D/A), dead-beat design, and digital controller design. Recommended prerequisites: ECEN 3300 and ECEN 4138.
  • MCEN 4138 - Feedback Control
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2023
    Introduction to fundamental principles and techniques for analysis and synthesis of feedback control systems in the time and frequency domains. Laplace transforms, transfer functions and block diagrams. Stability, dynamic response, and steady-state analysis. Analysis and design of control systems using root locus and frequency response methods. Computer aided design and analysis. Introduction to state space representations and state feedback control. Same as MCEN 5138. Degree credit not granted for this course and ECEN 4138 or ECEN 5138.
  • MCEN 4228 - Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2022
    Subject matter to be selected from topics of current interest. May be repeated up to 15 credit hours. Same as MCEN 5228.
  • MCEN 5138 - Feedback Control
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2023
    Introduction to fundamental principles and techniques for analysis and synthesis of feedback control systems in the time and frequency domains. Laplace transforms, transfer functions and block diagrams. Stability, dynamic response, and steady-state analysis. Analysis and design of control systems using root locus and frequency response methods. Computer aided design and analysis. Introduction to state space representations and state feedback control. Recommended prerequisite: MCEN 4043 or comparable knowledge gained through outside coursework. Same as MCEN 4138. Degree credit not granted for this course and ECEN 4138 or ECEN 5138.
  • MCEN 5228 - Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2022
    Subject matter to be selected from topics of current interest. May be repeated up to 15 credit hours.

Background

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