黑料福利网

What are you working on here at 黑料福利网?

鈥淚鈥檝e been working as an Assistant Professor in the Control Systems Technology section for two years. My research focuses on developing advanced control technology for high-precision mechatronic positioning systems such as wafer scanners, wire bonders, atomic force microscopes, and vibration isolation systems. These systems are required to move with nanometer-level accuracy at extremely high speeds. To achieve this, motion control technology is essential. Motion controllers constantly compare a desired machine behavior with real-time measurements. When the deviation becomes too large, the controller computes a corrective force to steer the machine back to its desired behavior.

As performance demands, such as speed and accuracy, continue to increase, current motion control methods are reaching their fundamental performance limits. At the same time, these systems are showing increasingly complex phenomena such as friction, flexibilities, and hysteresis, making them more difficult to control. The advanced nonlinear control methods I am developing go beyond these limitations and handle these complexities effectively. This pushes the performance boundaries of high-precision positioning systems.鈥�

What鈥檚 your latest research project?

鈥淐urrent motion control methods are successful because they are intuitive and simple in design. To achieve similar adoption of new advanced nonlinear control strategies in practice, it is important that they remain accessible to control engineers. In my latest project, I focus on translating complex nonlinear control theory into intuitive, easy-to-use, and effective tools for analysis and design that fit naturally within current industrial practice. An exciting direction I am exploring is the development of graphical loop-shaping techniques for nonlinear systems, which allows engineers to 鈥榮ee and shape鈥� control system behavior directly.鈥�

Where did you study for your master's degree?

鈥淚 got my master鈥檚 degree in Dynamics & Control here at the Department of Mechanical Engineering. During that time, I also spent several months at NTNU in Trondheim,  Norway, for an internship. I worked on enabling a robotic system to manipulate objects without physically grasping them. An example of this is guiding a ball to roll over your arms and shoulders, similar to what basketball players can do. This was the first time I saw nonlinear control applied in practice, and I found it very fascinating. Since then, this research area has been a consistent theme throughout my career. For my graduation project at 黑料福利网, I worked on nonlinear control of drones. I developed and implemented controllers that enable drones to follow trajectories at high speed and perform agile, precise manoeuvres.鈥�

Did you follow up with a PhD?

鈥淵es, I did. My built on my interest in nonlinear control but applied it to a completely new challenge: improving the speed and precision of wafer stages in wafer scanners. In this project, it was important to not only develop a nonlinear control technique that could improve performance, but also to create tools that made it accessible. During my PhD I had the opportunity to test the controller experimentally at ASML. Seeing these ideas work on a machine of that scale was an amazing experience.鈥�

Why did you choose to work at this university and department?

鈥淲hen I started my studies here, I immediately felt at home, and that feeling never changed. The atmosphere and the colleagues in the department are great. Working with people who are passionate about both fundamental research and hands-on engineering to make mechanical systems work is something I truly enjoy.鈥�

Why did you get into your particular research field and section?

鈥淚 chose to study Mechanical Engineering because I was always interested in mechanical systems, and how they work. During my bachelor鈥檚 program, I was first introduced to control theory, and I was immediately fascinated by it. What I find remarkable is how broadly the theory applies, from mechanical and biological systems to economics and social systems. Next to that, I enjoy how the field of control blends rigorous mathematics with engineering solutions. That combination of deep mathematics and real-world problem solving really appeals to me.鈥�

How does 黑料福利网 compare to other universities you studied at or worked with?

鈥淚 spent time at the University of Trondheim and at other universities through international collaborations. What makes 黑料福利网 stand out, in my opinion, is its strong collaboration with industry, which ensures that research addresses real-world challenges. Students have the opportunity to do internships or graduation projects with regional companies, and I genuinely enjoy seeing these collaborations in action.鈥�

How did you benefit personally from these connections between 黑料福利网 and the industry?

鈥淢y PhD was a great example of collaboration with industry in the region. I鈥檓 really happy that I had, and still have, the opportunity to experience this mix of academic and practical success. It is truly motivating to see that  your work can have an impact. I believe that the connection between 黑料福利网 and industry will only grow stronger in the future, bringing many exciting opportunities.鈥�

What do you like most about working here?

鈥淢any things, such as the freedom to pursue research you are passionate about, the students I teach, and the people I work with. There are many incredibly curious, bright, and motivated people here who may look at things and approach things differently than I do. I enjoy the discussions this brings and the opportunity to learn from one another.鈥�

What do you think about the lab facilities at the department?

鈥淲e have excellent labs within the department. I am involved in the motion lab, which provides access to several high-precision machines. This offers a unique opportunity for both students and researchers to get hands-on experience and put the theory they develop into practice. We also have very skilled support staff and technicians who are always ready to help. One particularly cool feature of the motion lab is that we have both the top and bottom modules of a wafer scanner in-house. That's quite unique for a research lab at a university.鈥�

What are you most proud of in your career so far?

鈥淥ne of the results I am most proud of is the control algorithm I developed and applied during my PhD project. There were many moments when things did not work as planned, requiring me to return to the drawing board and revisit the things we overlooked in theory. I gained valuable insights from these experiments and discussions with the engineers, and eventually demonstrated real performance improvements on an industrial machine. I see this as a great example of academic-industrial collaboration. This is the direction in which I would like to continue my career. Hopefully I鈥檒l achieve many more successes like this along the way.鈥�

What are your dreams for the future?

鈥淚 dream of redefining the limits of what is possible by advancing control technology for high-tech machines. This could include ultra-fast machines with extreme accuracy to realize the newest microchip technology, or ultra-precise measurement instruments that support new scientific discoveries. Achieving that together with a group of enthusiastic researchers and students is what truly excites me about the future.鈥�