Research

Recent Research Projects and Funding

  • PI, LLM-Enabled Safe Control of Cyber-Physical Systems, 2025 U.S. Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship Program, Rome, NY.

  • PI, A Distributed Scenario Approach for Optimization and Control, 2024 U.S. Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship Program, Rome, NY.

  • PI, Distributed Multiple Layer Control in SDN/NFV-Enabled Large Scale Communication Networks, NRC RPA, 2023.

  • PI, A Dynamic Policy Gradient Algorithm for Suboptimal VNF Embedding and Scheduling in SDN/NFV-Enabled Networks, 2022 U.S. Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship Program, Kirtland AFB, 2022.

  • PI, Consensus-Based Reinforcement Learning Control for Multiagent Systems with Model Uncertainties, Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) awarded through Griffiss Institute Inc., Rome, NY, 10/2020 – 12/2020, $6,965.

  • PI, Consensus-Based Value Iteration for Multi-Agent Cooperative Control, 2020 U.S. Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship Program, Rome, NY, 2020.

  • PI, Design of Nonlinear Control for Active Queue Management in TCP Networks, 2019 U.S. Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship Program, Kirtland AFB, 2019

  • PI, Research Experience for Undergraduates in Intelligent Control of Networked Autonomous Robotic Systems, Illinois Space Grant Consortium, 9/2019 – 9/2021, $9,760.

  • Co-PI, Development of Triple-Mode Redundancy (TMR) Hardware for CubeSat-based Science Missions in Geospace and Atmospheric Research, Illinois Space Grant Consortium, 9/2019 – 9/2021, $11,000.

  • PI, Distributed Detection and Control of Emergent Behaviors of Multiagent Systems: New Tasks on Algorithm Resilience and Hardware Testing, Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), 10/21/2017 – 10/20/2018, $60,000.

  • PI, An Approximate Distributed Gradient Estimation Method for Network Optimization with Limited Communications, 2017 U.S. Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship Program, Kirtland AFB, 2017.

  • PI, Distributed Task Coordination and Coordinated Reinforcement Learning in Multi-Robot Missions, Illinois Space Grant Consortium, 10/2017 – 4/2019, $8,000.

  • PI, Distributed Detection and Control of Emergent Behaviors of Multiagent Systems, Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), 4/20/2015 – 10/20/2017, $424,503.

  • PI, Distributed Detection and Control of Emergent Behaviors of Multiagent Systems: Simulation Using AgentFly, Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), 3/2016 – 9/2016, $67,000.

  • PI, Multiagent Task Coordination Using a Distributed Optimization Approach, Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), 8/2014 – 4/2015, $106,119 (The funding was transferred to Bradley University with me when I joined ECE department in August 2014.)

  • PI, Cooperative Control of a Heterogeneous Ground-Aerial Multi-Vehicle Team, Caterpillar Fellowship, 5/2017 – 5/2018, $5,000.

  • PI, Adaptive cooperative control in a heterogeneous ground-air robot team, Bradley University Special Emphasis Award, 12/15/2015 – 12/15/2017, $6,000.

  • PI, Multiagent Task Coordination Using a Distributed Optimization Approach, Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), 4/2013 – 4/2015, $499,759.

  • Co-PI, MRI: Acquisition of Mobile Robot Systems for Autonomous Multiple-Robot Cooperative Control Research, National Science Foundation, CNS-0821557, 8/2008 – 8/2011, $222,975.

  • Co-PI, National Summer Transportation Institute Program B-CU Site, Department of Transportation, 7/1/2013 – 7/26/2013, $26,466.

  • PI, Design, Implementation, and Experimental Validation of Cooperative Control Algorithms for Multiple Wheeled Mobile Robots, Bethune-Cookman University Research Grant, 6/2008-7/2008, $5,000.

Student Research Projects (@Bradley Univ.)

  • J. Shao (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University), M.S. thesis, Experimental validation of a new distributed cooperative control algorithm for multiagent systems with switching communication topologies and time-delays, 2013 – 2014. (Co-advisor)

  • K. Gao (Central South University), Ph.D. thesis, Distributed Control of Heavy-Haul Trains, 2011 – 2014. (Co-advisor)

  • H. Li (Central South University), Ph.D. thesis, Extremum-Seeking Control of Parallel Chargers for Super-Capacitor Light Rail Vehicles, 2013 – 2017. (Co-advisor)

  • J. Liu (Central South University), Ph.D. thesis, Cooperative Control of Power Systems, 2012 – 2015. (Co-advisor)

  • F. Zhou (Central South University), Ph.D. thesis, Event-triggered control of Network Systems, 2013 – 2017. (Co-advisor)

  • C. Smith, M.Sc. thesis, 8/14–8/15. Topic: A Distributed Deployment Algorithm for Formation Control and Optimal Placement Control with Considerations for Use on Kilobot Robotic Platform.

  • T.A. Khan, M.Sc. thesis, 6/15–6/16. Topic: On formalization of Emergent Behaviors in Multiagent Systems.

  • Steven Comandini, Drew Shambaugh, Senior Capstone Project, 9/22 – Topic: Data-Driven Safe Control of Quadrotors with Reinforcement Learning.

  • Ashhud Rajput, Krima Thakkar, Senior Capstone Project, 9/22 – Topic: Advanced Battery Diagnostics and Prognostics Based on Inline Rapid Impedance Spectroscopy (CAT sponsored).

  • Cole Kelly, Mark Allen, Brad Schaeffer, Senior Capstone Project, 9/21 – 5/22 Topic: Small UAV Flying Control.

  • Anna Choflet, Shaeler McGee, Gage Maciejewski, Senior Capstone Project, 9/21 – 5/22 Topic: Battery Modeling and SoC /SoH Estimation (CAT sponsored).

  • Ryan Canny, Jeremy Vogel, Senior Capstone Project, 9/21 – 5/22 Topic: Power Converter Control .

  • Ryan Russell, Jakob Harig, Senior Capstone Project, 9/20 – 5/21 Topic: Synchronization of Cart-pole systems using Reinforcement Learning (Air Force Research Lab Sponsored).

  • Shreel Patel, Jenna Limbach, Matthew Sills, Senior Capstone Project, 9/20 – 5/21 Topic: Inverter Design and Control.

  • Tyler Buchanan, Michael Jensen, Senior Capstone Project, 9/19 – 5/20 Topic: GPS Lane Learning and Path Risk (Komatsu Sponsored).

  • Kuinan Jiang, Alex Topping, Senior Capstone Project, 9/19 – 5/20 Topic: Semi-Autonomous Gesture-Controlled Operation.

  • Robert Klein, Salvador Rosas Viveros, Andrew Washburn, Senior Capstone Project, 9/19 – 5/20 Topic: Feedback Control of Inverters for Microgrid Applications.

  • Alexander Fuentes, Rodrigo Ramirez, Senior Capstone Project, 9/19 – 5/20 Topic: Electromyography Human-Machine Interface.

  • C. Leonard, B. Howard, Senior Capstone Project, 9/18–5/19. Topic: Micorgrid Converter Modeling and Control.

  • Caleb Dell, Leslie Garcia, and Alex Jaeger, Senior Capstone Project, 9/18 –5/19. Topic: Active Suspension System.

  • Karim Elrafie, Luke Vigue, Zachary Thomas, Senior Capstone Project, 9/17– 5/18, Topic:DC Microgrid ESS Sizing.

  • B. Mack, C. Noe, T. Rice, Senior Capstone Project, 9/17– 5/18. Topic: Formation Flying of Crazyflies.

  • B. Roskuszka, C. McSweeney, D. Hofstetter, K. Knapp, Senior Capstone Project, 9/16–5/17. Topic: IEEE SoutheastCon Hardware Competition.

  • Anthony Le, Ryan Clue}, Senior Capstone Project, 9/16–5/17. Topic: Distributed Vision-Based Target Tracking Control using Mobile Robots.

  • Jeff Deeds, Z. Engstrom, Caleb Gill, Zack Woods, Senior Capstone Project, 9/16–5/17. Topic: Vision Based Autonomous Control of a Quadcopter.

  • M. McGrath, M. Talukder, W. Kelly, Senior Capstone Project, 9/16–5/17. Topic: Self-Activating Fall Alert.

  • G. Bock, R. Hendrickson, J. Lamkin, B. Dhal, Senior Capstone Project, 3/15–5/16. Topic: Cooperative Control of Heterogeneous Mobile Robots Network.

Student Research Projects (Collaboration with ERAU and CSU)

  • J. Shao (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University), M.S. thesis, Experimental validation of a new distributed cooperative control algorithm for multiagent systems with switching communication topologies and time-delays, 2013 – 2014. (Co-advisor)

  • K. Gao (Central South University), Ph.D. thesis, Distributed Control of Heavy-Haul Trains, 2011 – 2014. (Co-advisor)

  • H. Li (Central South University), Ph.D. thesis, Extremum-Seeking Control of Parallel Chargers for Super-Capacitor Light Rail Vehicles, 2013 – 2017. (Co-advisor)

  • J. Liu (Central South University), Ph.D. thesis, Cooperative Control of Power Systems, 2012 – 2015. (Co-advisor)

  • F. Zhou (Central South University), Ph.D. thesis, Event-triggered control of Network Systems, 2013 – 2017. (Co-advisor)

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