The objective of this research is to develop a theory of "ActionWebs", that is, networked embedded sensor-rich systems, which are taskable for coordination of multiple decision-makers. The approach is to:

1. Identify models of ActionWebs using stochastic hybrid systems, an interlinking of continuous dynamical physical models with discrete state representations of interconnection and computation.
2. Algorithms will be designed for tasking individual sensors, based on information objectives for the entire system.
3. Algorithms for ActionWebs will be developed using multi-objective control methods for meeting safety and efficiency objectives.

Two grand challenge applications for this research are in

• Intelligent Buildings for optimal heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and lighting based on occupant behavior and external environment;
• Air Traffic Control for mobile vehicle platforms with sensor suites for environmental sensing to enable safe, convenient, and energy efficient routing.

The intellectual merit of this research stems from a conceptual shift of ActionWebs away from passive information gathering to an action-orientation. This involves: modeling of ActionWebs using stochastic hybrid systems; taskable, multi-modal, and mobile sensor webs; and multi-scale action-perception hierarchies.

The broader impact of the research is in two grand challenge national problems: energy efficient air transportation, and energy efficient, high productivity buildings, and will tackle social, privacy, economic, and usability issues. Integrated with the research is a program of coursework development in networked embedded systems, across stove pipes in EECS, Aero-Astro, Civil, and Mechanical Engineering departments. Outreach objectives include new course design at San Jose State University, and recruiting more women researchers at all age levels, as with the highly successful Girls in Engineering program.

Past meeting presentations

2013

• March 1st - Mehdi Maasoumy, presenting Control and Optimization of Cyber-Physical Energy Systems: Smart Buildings within Smart Grid (A Platform-Based Design Approach)
• April 5th - Melanie Zeilinger, presenting Distributed and Real-time Predictive Control
• April 26th - Yudong Ma, presenting Model Predictive Control for Energy Efficient Buildings
• June 7th - Liangpeng Guo, presenting Bridging Functional and Architectural Aspects of Controller Design in Cyber-Physical System
• June 28th - David Broman, presenting Precision Timed Infrastructure: Languages, Compilers, and Hardware with Ubiquitous Notion of Time
• August 2nd - Bozen Zhang, presenting Power Distribution Systems: Optimization, Control and Communication
• August 9th - Jeremy Gillula, presenting Guaranteeing Safe Online Machine Learning via Reachability Analysis

2012

• May 25th - Dan Calderone, Sam Coogan, Lillian Ratcliffe, presenting Quadratic Incentives for Noncooperative, Distributed Control
• June 1 - Pangun Park, presenting Investigating Communication Infrastructure of Next Generation Air Traffic Management
• June 8 - Max Balandat, presenting A Mean Field Congestion Game Framework
• June 15 - Anil Aswani, presenting Energy-Efficient HVAC Control in Sutardja Dai Hall
• June 22 - Anil Aswani, presenting Incentive Design for Efficient Building Quality of Service

2011

• Oct. 6 - Anil Aswani, presenting Statistics in Control
• Oct. 29 - Prof. Lee, presenting Portable Real-Time Code from PTIDES Models
• Nov. 17 - Rongxin Yin, presenting Identifying efficient operations through linking measurements and models in commercial buildings

2010

• Sept. 1 - Jorge Ortiz, presenting Collecting and Managing Building Data
• Sept. 15 - Nikhil Naikal, presenting Cellphone as a Perceptual Platform for Micro UAVs
• Sept. 22 - Yasemin Demir, presenting JOGL: An OpenGL Based Graphics Domain for Ptolemy II
• Sept. 29 - Slobodan Matic, presenting PTIDES Project Overview
• Oct. 13 - Michael Wetter: LBNL presenting Modeling, Simulation and Analysis of Integrated Building Energy and Control Systems with Modelica and Ptolemy II
• Oct. 20 - Wei Zhang, presenting Decentralized Path Planning For Air Traffic Management
• Nov. 3 - Jeremy Gillula, presenting Fusing Machine Learing & Control Theory
• Nov. 17 - Haomiao Huang, presenting Beyond Human Factors: An Approach to Human/Automation Teams
• Dec. 1 - Anil Aswani, presenting Statistical System Identification and Control

ActionWebs is part of CHESS's Cyber-Physical Systems effort.

Faculty participants:

• Claire Tomlin (Principal Investigator)
• Edward Lee (Co-Principal Investigator)
• S. Shankar Sastry (Co-Principal Investigator)
• David Culler (Co-Principal Investigator)
• Hamsa Balakrishnan (Co-Principal Investigator)