LiU startsida
Master's Program in Control and Autonomous Systems
120 ECTS credits
Today, technical systems are becoming more and more complex and thus harder for a human to operate in a safe and efficient way. Therefore, there is an increasing need for autonomous functionalities that either help an operator or make intelligent decisions in order to take appropriate actions by itself. Such techniques can be used to increase the flexibility and enable new functionality in for example cars, trucks, robots, aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). In order to achieve this, it is necessary to process information at several levels of abstraction, ranging from low-level processing and fusion of noisy sensor data to high-level qualitative reasoning.
Core technologies in autonomous systems are automatic control, sensor informatics, artificial intelligence (AI), and logic. The master's program in Control and Autonomous Systems gives a foundation in modeling and control of dynamical systems and artificial intelligence. Furthermore, two application areas for the studied methods are covered in depth: vehicular systems and UAVs.
Several courses in the program concern modern
vehicular systems, in which one of the main objectives is to reduce
the environmental impact while maintaining vehicle performance. This
requires an accurate mathematical description of the vehicle together
with advanced control strategies that are able to fulfill the required
emission-related specifications in a wide range of operating
conditions. All these issues are covered by the program courses.
The second application area is the design of UAVs, which is a highly multi-disciplinary problem. Therefore, the program offers courses in the areas of control, sensor informatics, vehicular systems, and artificial intelligence. An important issue is the integration of these techniques into working systems. A graduate from the program should be able to design UAVs that are flexible enough to complete complex missions despite an unknown and changing environment. Hence, the program covers how a UAV can create and process qualitative information and reason about the environment and its own actions.
Most of the courses within the program are given by the three research
groups Artificial
Intelligence & Integrated Computer
Systems, Automatic
Control,
and Vehicular Systems.
All these groups have strong positions in the international research
communities, close cooperations with industrial partners, and long
established experience in undergraduate and graduate education.
Courses
The master's program in Control and Autonomous Systems has a set of core courses that are mandatory for all students. Together, these courses provide a solid common framework of importance for all students that aim at a career within the field of control and autonomous systems. Furthermore, the students can focus on one of three subareas by choosing a set of suitable specialization courses. The three subareas are:
- Automotive, Robotics, and Aerospace/UAV
- Control and Sensor Informatics
- Intelligent Autonomous Systems
| Autumn, year 1 | Introduction to advanced academic studies | Real-time and concurrent programming | Vehicle dynamics and control | Modeling and simulation | Advanced C++ programming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital signal processing | Automotive control systems | ||||
| Spring, year 1 | Artificial intelligence | Control theory | AI robotics | Advanced C++ programming | Industrial control systems |
| Diagnosis and supervision | Sensor fusion | ||||
| Autumn, year 2 | Multi-agent systems | Vehicle propulsion systems | Advanced C++ programming | Optimal and nonlinear control | Image analysis |
| Automated planning | AI programming | ||||
| Spring, year 2 | Master's thesis | ||||
Career
Engineers with a background in control and autonomous systems are mainly employed in industry or research institutions. Typical industrial employers can be found within the aerospace, automotive engineering, and process industries. Furthermore, the program gives a solid foundation for further studies towards a PhD, either at Linköping University or elsewhere.
Research Groups Involved in the Program
The master's program in Control and Autonomous Systems is organized by three research groups, which are described briefly here.
Artificial Intelligence & Integrated Computer Systems
The Division of
Artificial Intelligence & Integrated Computer Systems
at Linköping University consists of approximately 25 persons
who do research in artificial intelligence and its application to
intelligent artifacts. The head of the division is Professor Patrick
Doherty.
The following courses within the master's program in Control and Autonomous Systems are given by the Division of Artificial Intelligence and Integrated Computer Systems.
Mandatory courses:
- Artificial intelligence
- AI robotics
- Multi-agent systems
- Automated planning
- AI programming
Automatic Control
The Division of Automatic
Control at Linköping University consists of
approximately 40 persons who do research about various control-related
topics, e.g., system identification, nonlinear and hybrid systems,
sensor fusion, optimization for control and signal processing,
diagnosis, detection, and robotics and communication applications. The
head of the division is Professor Lennart Ljung.
The following courses within the master's program in Control and Autonomous Systems are given by the Division of Automatic Control.
Mandatory courses:
- Modeling and simulation
- Digital signal processing
- Control theory
- Sensor fusion
- Industrial control systems
- Optimal and nonlinear control
Vehicular Systems
The Division of Vehicular
Systems at Linköping University consists of
approximately 20 persons who do research about several aspects of
control, diagnosis and supervision in automotive systems, e.g., engine
modeling and control, model based fault diagnosis, and vehicle
control. The head of the division is Professor Lars Nielsen.
The following courses within the master's program in Control and Autonomous Systems are given by the Division of Vehicular Systems.
Mandatory courses:
- Vehicle dynamics and control
- Diagnosis and supervision
- Automotive control systems
- Vehicle propulsion systems
Prerequisites
An applicant is expected to have a Bachelor's degree with a major in electrical engineering, computer science, computer engineering, or mechanical engineering. An applicant must have the equivalent of at least 30 ECTS credits in mathematics (calculus, linear algebra, transform theory, complex functions) and 10 ECTS credits in physics or mechanics. Furthermore, an applicant must have taken courses in automatic control (including signals and systems), programming, and probability theory.Contact Info
If you have any questions concerning the program, contact us using the addresses below.
Administrative issues and application formalities: studyinfo@liu.se.
Programme and course content: Erik Frisk, frisk@isy.liu.se
How to apply
All application procedures can be found at http://www.liu.se/education/master/.Apply to the programme at studera.nu
Links
- Artificial Intelligence & Integrated Computer Systems
- Automatic Control
- Vehicular Systems
- Study guide
Page responsible: Erik Frisk
Last updated: 2010-11-29
