Control Advent Calendar 2024

Author of this question: Steffi Knorn, Fachgebiet Regelungstechnik, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany Once the Christmas rush is over, Santa will finally have some well-deserved free time. After a relaxing beach holiday to unwind from all the stress, he plans to put all the control … Continue reading24 – Beachside Brainstorm: What Comes After Christmas?

Author of this question: Paolo Massenio, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettrica e dell’Informazione, Politecnico di Bari, Italy A sudden snowstorm has caused Santa Claus’s turbo-sled to run out of reindeer power just as he’s about to deliver the last present to … Continue reading23 – The Last Present: An Alpine Christmas Crisis

Authors of this question: Damiano Rotondo, Institutt for data- og elektroteknologi (IDE), Universitetet i Stavanger, Norway & Helem Sánchez, Hafrsfjord Skole, Norway During their playful winter breaks, Santa’s elves love to ride their sleds down the icy hills surrounding Santa’s house and workshop. … Continue reading22 – Winter Adventures: Mapping Safe Routes for Santa’s Elves

Author of this question: Steffi Knorn, Fachgebiet Regelungstechnik, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany Santa loves watching figure skating, and he’s recently become a big fan of seeing whole teams moving gracefully together on the ice in perfect choreography. Now, it’s become such a popular trend … Continue reading21 – The Golden Skate: Coaching Reindeer to Synchronized Perfection

Author of this question: Didrik Efjestad Fjereide, Institutt for Data- og Elektroteknologi, Universitetet i Stavanger, Norway Santa has had his fair share of challenging rooftop landings over the years, which has raised concerns from his insurance provider. One key issue he faces is … Continue reading20 – Perfect Landings, Every Time: The RTLS Sleigh Calibration Dilemma

Author of this question: Antonio Visioli, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Industriale, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Italy Santa wants the elves to make the gift-wrapping process as smooth and efficient as possible. To achieve this, he asks them to develop a system … Continue reading19 – The Curious Case of Conveyor Control and Cookie-Craving Squirrels

Authors of this question: Teresa Paula Coelho Azevedo Perdicoulis, ISR Coimbra & Departamento de Matemática, Universidade de Trás-Os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal & Paulo Jorge de Azevedo Lopes dos Santos, INESC-TEC & Departamento de Engenharia Eletrotécnica e de Computadores, Universidade … Continue reading18 – From Sluggish Starts to Smooth Glides: Can Santa Jingle All The…

Authors of this question: Helem Sánchez, Hafrsfjord Skole, Norway & Damiano Rotondo, Institutt for data- og elektroteknologi (IDE), Universitetet i Stavanger, Norway Santa is building a huge gingerbread house at the North Pole, but he’s worried it might not stay standing once it’s … Continue reading17 – A Sweet Challenge: Stability Analysis of Santa’s Gingerbread House

Author of this question: Antonio Visioli, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Industriale, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Italy Elf Elin found herself in quite the predicament – an unusual one, indeed! For some reason, she was always chilly, which was strange for … Continue reading16 – Candy-Fueled Warmth: Is Elin’s Heating Machine the Future?

Author of this question: Kristian Thorsen, Institutt for Data- og Elektroteknologi, Universitetet i Stavanger, Norway The Tannenbaum family is holding its annual workshop for making Christmas decorations. This year, the goal is creating paper chain garlands and woven paper hearts from pieces of … Continue reading15 – Who Should Sit Where? The Tannenbaum Family Puzzle

Authors of this question: Francesco Dolce & Adriano Fagiolini, Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Mobile & Intelligent Robots Panormus Laboratory (MIRPALab), Università di Palermo, Italy Santa Claus is baking gingerbread cookies with his elves, but he can’t see how many cookies were … Continue reading14 – A Gingerbread Mystery: How Many Cookies Are in the Oven?

Author of this question: Anthony Rossiter, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Sheffield, England Santa has used for many years a gentle strategy to guide his reindeer — giving them careful, gradual instructions to slow down as they … Continue reading13 – The Feedback Law Debate: Should Santa Push His Reindeer Harder?

Authors of this question: Damiano Rotondo, Institutt for data- og elektroteknologi (IDE), Universitetet i Stavanger, Norway & Helem Sánchez, Hafrsfjord Skole, Norway In Santa’s bustling workshop, the elves are in full swing, crafting toys destined to delight children across the … Continue reading12 – From Fragile to Fantastic: Optimising Toy Crafting

Author of this question: Steffi Knorn, Fachgebiet Regelungstechnik, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany In the bustling elves’ workshop, cookies are more than just a treat — they’re the magical fuel that powers the elves’ tireless efforts. But these aren’t ordinary cookies; … Continue reading11 – Endless Magic: The Curious Cycle of Cookies and Elves

Authors of this question: Franco Angelini & Alberto Landi, Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Informazione, Università di Pisa, Italy Santa Claus is running late this year because there are so many good kids to deliver presents to. Thankfully, Santa has a lot … Continue reading10 – Walter’s Winter Wonders: Gift Delivery at Lightning Speed

Author of this question: Steffi Knorn, Fachgebiet Regelungstechnik, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany The elves in Santa’s workshop are way behind on making gifts, so the head supervisor elf has given the order: <<Roll up your sleeves and get to work!>> … Continue reading09 – Mercurina’s Challenge: Bikes and Magical Bandages

Author of this question: Alberto Leva, Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Italy Santa Claus finally decided to fulfil an old wish of his hardworking elves: an outdoor swimming pool complete with a temperature-controlled waterfall. Nothing says … Continue reading08 – From Steam to Screams: the Mystery of the Overheated Cascade

Authors of this question: Damiano Rotondo, Institutt for data- og elektroteknologi (IDE), Universitetet i Stavanger, Norway & Helem Sánchez, Hafrsfjord Skole, Norway It is a frosty Christmas Eve, and Santa is getting ready for his big night of delivering gifts. … Continue reading07 – Back to the Sleigh: Santa’s Race to 88 MPH

Author of this question: Steffi Knorn, Fachgebiet Regelungstechnik, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany Dolls are a classic Christmas gift, so it’s no surprise that part of Santa’s workshop is dedicated to making dolls and their dresses. Every morning, the two teams—the … Continue reading06 – Perfect System or Christmas Chaos? The Dolls and Dresses Puzzle

Authors of this question: Francesco Dolce & Adriano Fagiolini, Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Mobile & Intelligent Robots Panormus Laboratory (MIRPALab), Università di Palermo, Italy The Elves want to monitor the position of Santa Claus’s new electric sleigh in real-time from their … Continue reading05 – Can the Elves Avoid Another Christmas Panic?

Author of this question: Steffi Knorn, Fachgebiet Regelungstechnik, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany Santa wants to make Christmas extra special for kids in Australia by creating an upside-down Christmas tree. However, the unusual design keeps tilting over, and without a solution, … Continue reading04 – Saving Christmas in Australia: the Upside-Down Tree Challenge

Author of this question: Anthony Rossiter, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Sheffield, England Santa’s elves are packing the sleigh to the brim, but now they face a challenge, as the only way out of Santa’s workshop is … Continue reading03 – Stack Smart or Crash Hard: The Great Sleigh Debate!

Author of this question: Damiano Varagnolo, Institutt for teknisk kybernetikk, NTNU, Norway & Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Informazione, Università degli Studi di Padova, Italy Forecasting another busy Christmas season, Santa is getting ready to stock the workshop with enough toy parts … Continue reading02 – Which Elf Has the Best Plan to Save Christmas?

Author of this question: Alessandro Falsone, Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Italy Given the shocking number of over 1.2 billion children worldwide under the age of 10, Santa and the elves have been under serious pressure … Continue reading01 – How can Santa Save Christmas with Control Theory?

The holidays are upon us, and it’s time to embrace the magic of the season! From baking warm gingerbread cookies to spreading kindness through good deeds, fetching logs for the fire, and choosing just the right holiday cards – Christmas … Continue reading🎄 Welcome to the 2024 Control Advent Calendar! 🎄