Robust Control of Highly Resonant Flexible and Nanoscale Systems

This proposal aims to develop new methodologies to analyse and design control systems for highly resonant flexible structures occurring in emerging areas of precision engineering such as atomic force microscopes, scanning tunnelling microscopes and microelectromechanical systems. The approach will build on the negative imaginary systems framework to enable the systematic synthesis of robust and optimal controllers applicable to complex nanoscale flexible systems. The goal is to enable improved speed, robustness and accuracy in control systems, which are critical in these technologies. Applications of the research include imaging and synthesis of new materials, biological and medical imaging, and scalable technologies for quantum computing.