Web Design

 

Prof. Ayalew's research group develops tools for modeling and control of dynamical systems. The list of past and current projects is given at the bottom. Recent focus areas are the following. Please contact Dr. Ayalew for upto date information as the website may not be updated regularly.

I. Modeling, Estimation and Control Problems with Vehicle Systems Dynamics and Mobile Robots

- Multi-physical modeling (electrical, mechanical, thermo-fluid, hydraulics) of vehicles and robots for control and estimation

- Control of multi-axis manipulators and mobile robots.

II. AI (data)-Augmented Physics-based Approaches to Control Systems

- Applications to battery management systems: Continual learning, safe fast charging, active balancing and thermal management of Li-ion battery modules and Packs. These include experimental work!

- Learning optimal vehicle powertrain and dynamics control policies from field data- with cooperative Deep Reinforcement Learning(DRL) methods.

III. Control of Multi-agent Systems such as Ddistributed Energy Resources (Microgrids), and Vehicle Fleets

- Routing and mobile charging problems

The publications tab lists papers from our current and past research activities. Many papers also include downloadable links.

List of Current and Past Projects

Due to sponsor confidentiality issues and the extensive diversity of topics covered in the group, only project titles are given in the following list. If interested in the details of any of these, please contact Dr. Ayalew directly.
*  Robotic Manipulator Modeling and Control (ARA, 2025-)
*  Routing and Charging of Electrified Truck Fleets (Allison Transmission, 2024-2025)
*  AI-based Battery Management Systems (US Army GVSC/VIPR-GS Center 2024-)
*  Skip-Shifting RL Policies (Allison Transmission, 2024)
*  Road Load Estimation from Edge Data (Allison Transmission, 2023- 2024)
*  Learning Shifting Policies from Telematics Data (Allison Transmission, 2021-2024)
*  Energy Management for Multi-Scale Vehicle Fleets (US Army GVSC, ARC/VIPR-GS Center, 2020-2025)
*  Commercial Vehicle Kinetic Energy Management Using Radar Information (Allison Transmission, 2018-2020)
*  Boosting Traffic Energy Efficiency via Vehicle to Vehicle Connectivty (US Department of Energy, 2017-2019)
*  Objective Phsyco-Vibratory Assessment of Vehicle Comfort (Michelin, 2016-2018)
*  Model-Based Analysis of Vehicle Drift/Pull Phenomena (Toyota, 2016-2018)
*  UV Processing of Bio-based Composites (NSF, 2015-2019)
*  Automotive Interaction Networks (Harris Corporation, 2014-2017)
*  Control of Hubmotor Driven Multi-Axle Vehicles (TARDEC-ARC, 2015-2016)
*   Analysis of the Steering and Handling Characteristics of a UTV (Michelin, 2015)
*  Heave Intrusivity During Travel Over Cleats/Rough Roads (Michelin, 2014-2016)
* Estimation and Diagnostic of Li-ion Batteries; GATE Hybrid Electirc Powertrain Integration Lab (US Department of Energy, 2011-2017).
*   CAREER: Control of Processes Actuated with Mobile Radiant Sources (NSF, 2011- 2017)
*   Braking-Induced Vibrations in TWEEL Coupled Suspension Systems (Michelin, 2012-2014)
*   Model-free Vehicle Stability Control with Extended Actuator Sets (Honda, 2013-2014)
*   Interaction of Tire Torsional Dynamics and ABS Control (Michelin, 2011-2014)
*   Fault Tolerant Control of Digital Displacement Pump/Motors ( TARDEC-ARC, 2011-2013, with Z. Filipi)
*   Electric Powertrain Simulation (E-Z-Go, 2011-2012, with P. Pisu)
*  Independent Hydrostatic Wheel Drives (TARDEC-ARC, 2008-2010) - Model-based investigation on the suitability of independent hydrostatic wheel drives for vehicle stability control.
*   Enabling the TWEEL for Passenger Cars (BMW, Michelin, 2006-2009) - New non-pneumatic tire invented by Michelin with new possibilities for expanding the design space by decoupling ride and handling constraints.
*   Compliant Link Suspension (BMW, 2006-2008) - Patent granted (US 8360452 B2) on a design that achieves light-weighting by integrating spring and kinematic guidance in certain links of a vehicle suspension.
*   Electromechanical Wedge Brakes for Reduced Energy Use in future X (brake)-by-wire systems for electrified vehicles (2010)
*   Hybrid (electric, hydraulic) Supercharging of IC Engines (turbogeneration and energy recovery) (2009)
*   Modeling and Control of Multi-Degree of Freedom Manipulator Robots (2007-2009).
*   Multi-actuator Dynamic Load Emulation: Examples include a multi-axis electrohydraulic road simulator and wind turbine drivetrain test rig. Modeling and Control of Electrohydraulic Actuation Systems (2005-2006)