University of Pannonia, Faculty of Information Technology
Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Systems

Advanced Nonlinear Control Methods: Theory and applications (PhD Course)

Date:  August 25 -  29, 2025

Aim

The aim of this condensed 5-day PhD course is to introduce basic notions in nonlinear systems and control to interested students. The studied topics will cover the classical theory of input-affine systems (analysis of basic properties such as reachability, observability, stability; linearization-based controller design), passivity, Hamiltonian system representation, model based predictive control,  as well as the control of compartmental systems. For each day, 4x45 mins of theoretical lectures and tutorials are planned.

Topics

  • Introduction: mathematical models of dynamical systems, linear and nonlinear models, control goals and constraints, summary of LTI systems
  • Mathematical tools: Vector fields, diffeomorphisms, tangent vectors, Lie derivative, Lie product, distributions, co-distributions
  • Most important special nonlinear system classes: positive systems, polynomial systems, QP-systems, CRNs, Hamiltonian systems. 
  • The underlying physical picture behind these classes
  • Summary of the theory of nonlinear autonomous systems: continuity, existence and unicity of solutions, equilibrium points, stability
  • Nonlinear control systems in ODE-form, steady states, linearization around steady states/solutions
  • Analysis of input-affine systems: reachability and controllability
  • Classical control of input-affine systems: exact linearization, zero dynamics, input-output linearization (SISO and MIMO cases)
  • Dissipative and passive systems: storage functions, dissipativity, passivity, Lq-gain. Control Lyapunov functions, passivation, feedback equivalence, minimum-phase nonlinear systems.
  • Hamiltonian systems: system interconnections and Hamiltonian functions, control by feedback and interconnection, generalized Hamiltonian systems
  • Model-based predictive controllers and their application for traffic systems.
  • Analysis and control of compartmental systems.

Venue and fee

Participation in the PhD Summer School is free of charge, but due to limited places, pre-registration is required. We can only offer the programme free of charge at the cost of neither accommodation nor meals. All participants are responsible for their own accommodation and meals during the course.

Location

The PhD Summer School will be held at the Faculty of Computer Engineering of the University of Pannonia. The exact address is Veszprém, Hungary, Egyetem street 2. (Buiding I).

Register for the course

Preliminary program

August 25

Time Room Topic Lecturer Notes
9:00-10:30   Nonlinear state space models (lecture)
Review of LTI state space and input-output models; Input-affine state space models; Local linearization		 Katalin Hangos presentation
11:00-12:30   Basic tools (computer tutorial)
Review of MATLAB and its important toolboxes

materials

complementary materials

Matlab codes

 
13:30-14:30   Model transformations and properties (lecture, blackboard tutorial)
Review of LTI state transformations, canonical model forms; Lie derivative, Lie brackets, relative degree; Nonlinear state transformations		 Katalin Hangos presentation
14:45-15:45   Model transformations II. (lecture, blackboard tut.)
Nonlinear feedback form for general and input affine systems, the notion of feedback equivalence to ensure a required property; the notion of relative degree; normal form of SISO nonlinear systems; the zero dynamics; exact linearization and I/O linearization via feedback linearization in the MIMO case		 Gábor Szederkényi presentation

August 26

Time Room Topic Lecturer Notes
9:00-10:30   Distributions and co-distributions; Reachability analysis, local and global reachability, controllability distribution; Observability analysis, local and global observability, observability co-distribution; Minimal realizations Gábor Szederkényi presentation
11:00-12:30   Stability (Lecture and tutorial)
 BIBO and asymptotic stability of LTI systems, Lyapunov stability, Lq stability for nonlinear systems, Lq-gain		 Attila Magyar presentation
13:30-14:30   Stabilizing controller design (Lecture and tutorial)
LTI state feedback controllers (pole placement and LQ),Control Lyapunov functions; Passivity, passivity by feedback		 Attila Magyar presentation
14:45-15:45   Model analysis and control (computer and blackboard tutorial) basic and advanced Attila Magyar  

August 27

Time Room Topic Lecturer Notes
9:00-10:30   Impulsive positive systems and optimal impulsive control (lecture, blackboard tutorial)
Basics of impulsive systems; Positive system properties; Modeling of impulsive compartmental systems; Optimal impulsive control strategies		 Dániel Drexler  
11:00-12:30   Modeling of dynamic systems via chemical reaction networks (lecture, blackboard tutorial)
Basics of reaction kinetics; Mass-action and Michaelis-Menten models; From reaction mechanisms to ODE models; Applications in biological and compartmental systems		 Dániel Drexler  
         

August 28

Time Room Topic Lecturer Notes
9:00-10:30   Basics notions of compartmental systems Katalin Hangos presentation
11:00-12:30   Dynamic analysis, control and applications of compartmental systems Gábor Szederkényi presentation
13:30-14:30   1. Epidemic state estimation using unknown-input observer, dynamic inversion, asymptotic output tracking, or optimization-based strategies.
2. Contractivity analysis of compartmental systems -- An LMI approach		 Péter polcz  

August 29

Time Room Topic Lecturer Notes
    Consultation