[] Join the IEEE Toronto Instrumentation & Measurement – Robotics & Automation Joint Chapter for a technical talk presented by Dr. Binyan Xu from University of Guelph. Monday, July 7, 2025 @ 10:30 – 11:30 AM (EST) Abstract: The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) has expanded significantly over recent decades, driven by their flexibility, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and capability to operate in dangerous or inaccessible environments. With rising demands, UAV systems are increasingly expected to achieve higher levels of autonomy. Model predictive control (MPC), an advanced control methodology that leverages online optimization, provides notable advantages such as optimal performance, efficient handling of multivariable systems, and explicit constraint management, making it a promising solution for UAV control challenges. However, ensuring closed-loop performance with manageable computational demands remains challenging due to the highly nonlinear dynamics of UAVs and the computational complexity of MPC. This talk introduces a Lyapunov-based MPC framework designed specifically to address these challenges, offering stabilized and computationally efficient MPC strategies tailored for UAV applications. Applications of this framework, including trajectory tracking and formation control, will be demonstrated to illustrate its effectiveness. Additionally, the integration of this framework with other Lyapunov-based control techniques for handling unexpected actuator faults and communication disruptions will be discussed, highlighting its potential to further enhance UAV operational efficiency and reliability. Speaker(s): Binyan Xu, Ph.D., Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/487504

Seminar by Prof. Anding Zhu (University College Dublin, Ireland) Speaker(s): Professor Anding Zhu, Room: 024, Bldg: Bahen Center for Information Technology, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2E4

Abstract: Vulnerabilities in OS and application software, although hard to eliminate, are well known. This talk will look a couple layers down in the stack to securing the lowest-level software in a device, often referred to as firmware, with the intent of blocking hard-to-find and hard-to-eradicate attacks classified as Advanced Persistent Threats. The talk covers why firmware is uniquely-difficult to protect, introduces the Root of Trust concept, and goes on to describe technology such as the Trusted Computing Group’s Trusted Platform Module (TPM), as a component to enhance a device’s ability to defend itself against APTs. Although low-level security issues can exist in any computing environment, this talk focuses on IoT and Industrial IoT applications. Speaker's Bio: Guy C. Fedorkow is a Distinguished Engineer at Juniper Networks. He received the BASc in Engineering Science and MASc in Electrical Engineering at University of Toronto, and went on to develop both packet-switching technology and high-throughput parallel computer architectures at Bolt, Beranek and Newman in Cambridge, MA. At Cisco Systems, he did hardware design and system architecture for cell-switching and high-scale internet service provider routers. Continuing at Juniper Networks, he has served as system architect for high-throughput Internet service provider products. Guy is currently working on trusted computing technologies to protect underlying computational infrastructure in router, switch and firewall products at Juniper Networks, and is a Fellow in the MIT Connection Sciences group. https://www.linkedin.com/in/guy-fedorkow-3b65151/ Room: SF B560, Bldg: Sanford Fleming Building, University of Toronto, 10 King's College Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 3G4