Peter J. Seiler
Peter J. Seiler
Adjunct Associate Professor , Department of Aerospace Engineering and MechanicsEducation
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 2001
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1996
B.S., Mathematics, Unersity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1996
Professional Background
Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, 2020
Adjunct Associate Professor, Aerospace Engineering & Mechanics, University of Minnesota, Jan. 2020-
Russell J. Penrose Felow, Aerospace Engineering & Mechanics, University of Minnesota, 2019
Associate Professor, Aerospace Engineering & Mechanics, University of Minnesota, 2016-2019
Assistant Professor, Aerospace Engineering & Mechanics, University of Minnesota, 2011-2016
Senior Research Associate, Aerospace Engineering & Mechanics, University of Minnesota, 2008-2011
Software Consultant, MUSYN, Inc., 2001-Present
Principal Scientist R&D, Honeywell, 2004-2008
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2002-2004
Visiting Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 2002
Research Assistant, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 1997-2001
Scientific & Professional Societies
- American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Professor Seiler’s research is in the area of control systems with applications to aerospace systems and wind energy. Modern control systems are typically designed using a model of the aircraft dynamics. One aspect of Professor Seiler’s research is to develop tools to analyze the effect of model uncertainty and nonlinearities on system performance. He also develops the theory required to design control algorithms that are robust to model uncertainty and nonlinearities. Professor Seiler is currently applying his tools to make wind energy more cost-effective. Advanced control algorithms can increase the power capture and reduced structural loads on large, industrial scale wind turbines. Another aspect of Professor Seiler’s research is to develop algorithms to increase the reliability of safety critical systems. Professor Seiler previously worked on the flight control electronics for the Boeing 787 aircraft. Commercial aircraft achieve remarkable levels of safety and reliability mainly through the use of redundant components, e.g. multiple redundant computers. He hopes to develop algorithms to achieve high levels of reliability in other domains, e.g. unmanned aerial vehicles and automotive vehicles, without using redundant components.
Honors and Awards
2016: Energy Systems Best Paper Award, ASME Dynamic Systems and Control Conference
2014: U of MN Postdoc. Assoc. Outstanding Post Doctoral Mentor, Hon. Mention
2013: NSF Faculty Early Career Development Award
2012: Institute on the Environment Resident Fellow
2004: Honeywell Bravo Silver Award for work on 787 Flight Control Electronics
2002: O. Hugo Schuck Award for best paper, American Control Conference
2001: Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor, University of CA, Berkeley
1996: Bronze Tablet, Awarded to top 3% of graduating class, University of Illinois
1996: B.T. Chao Award, University of Illinois –Urbana/Champaign
1996: Thiokol Award, Awarded for excellence in engineering design, University of Illinois
Selected Publications
R. Venkataraman and P. Seiler, "Fault-Tolerant Flight Control Using One Aerodynamic Control Surface," accepted to the AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics.
P. Seiler, R. Moore, C. Meissen, M. Arcak, and A.K. Packard, “Finite Horizon Robustness Analysis of LTV Systems Using Integral Quadratic Constraints", Automatica, vol. 100, p. 135-143, 2019
D. Ossmann, J. Theis, and P. Seiler, “Robust Control Design for Load Reduction on A Liberty Wind Turbine,” ASME Dynamic Systems and Control Conference, 2016. (Energy Systems Best Paper Award)
P. Seiler, “Stability Analysis with Dissipation Inequalities and Integral Quadratic Constraints,” IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, vol. 60, no. 6, p.1704-1709, 2015.
P Seiler, R Sengupta, "An H-infty approach to networked control IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control," 50 (3), 356-364, 2005.
P. Seiler and R. Sengupta, “A Bounded Real Lemma for Jump Systems,” IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, vol. 48, no.9, p.1651-1654, 2003
P. Seiler, A. Pant, and J.K. Hedrick, “Disturbance Propagation in Large Interconnected Systems,” American Control Conference, p.1062-1067, 2002. (O. Hugo Schuck Award for best paper)