Course information
Learning outcomes
After completing the course the student can: explain the main analysis and synthesis methods to be systematically used in the control of nonlinear systems subject to performance requirements as well as stability, robustness and optimality considerations. The student will be able to formulate a well-defined control problem for multivariable processes, choose and implement a suitable solution (method and algorithms) to the control problem including data-driven algorithms, evaluate the performance of the solution, understand the fundamental restrictions in control.
Content
Nonlinear dynamical systems; Lyapunov stability theory and analysis; Feedback control; Control Barrier Functions for safety and control invariance; Introduction to optimal control; Learning and Optimization based techniques for modeling, analysis, and control; Applications to robotics and multi-agent systems.
Teacher
Shankar Deka
Study material
1. Course materials will be based on chapters from the following books
- S. Sastry, Nonlinear Systems: Analysis, Stability, and Control. Springer 1999.
- H. K. Khalil, Nonlinear Systems, 3rd edition. Prentice Hall, 2002.
- Donald Kirk, Optimal Control Theory: An Introduction. Dover Publications 2004.
2. Lecture notes and slides
3. Research articles
Workload
Lectures, Exercise hours, Self-study, Homework assignments.
Prerequisites
ELEC-E8101 Digital and Optimal Control D and ELEC-E8116 Model-Based Control Systems D are recommended but not mandatory. Basic course of continuous time control systems, ordinary differential equations, linear algebra, optimization and multivariable calculus. Use of Matlab/Simulink and Python.
Evaluation
Homework assignments, participation in classroom discussions, Final project.
Teaching time and location
The teaching time and the location of the course can be found in the Sisu information system.
- The link leads to Completion methods tab of the course page
- From the top of the page (Version drop-down menu), check that the academic year 2026-2027 is selected
- From the blue bar, choose the right teaching and open the Groups and study events tab to see the teaching time and location of the course. To see exam times, click Exam.
Exam instructions at the Open University
The teacher has four (4) weeks to grade the exam submissions starting from the exam date.
Online learning environment for the course
The MyCourses online learning environment is a tool for both students and teachers for communication and managing everyday course work. You need an Aalto User ID to log in to the course's MyCourses workspace and participate in teaching.
Digital workspace of the course:
MyCourses
More details on completing the course will be available at MyCourses closer to the start of the course.
Registration and course fee
Registration for Open University courses is done via the link below:
Course registration
Registration for this course starts on 10.8.2026 at 9.00
Registration for this course ends on 7.9.2026 at 23.59
It is not possible to register before the registration period has started or after it has ended.
The number of participants is limited to 5.
This course is organized by the Aalto University School of Electrical Engineering.
The course fee is paid upon registration for each course at a time and it is binding. Familiarize yourself with registration and payment rules as well as other guidelines for students:
Registration, payments and rules
