About the 2024 Control Advent Calendar
Welcome to the 2024 Control Advent Calendar – a unique and festive way to explore the world of automatic control! Open to participants of all backgrounds, this initiative encourages everyone, regardless of prior exposure to control engineering, to engage with daily questions that highlight real-world problems and the role of control engineers in solving them.
Created thanks to the collaboration between academics from different universities such as The University of Sheffield (UK), Università di Brescia (Italy), TU Berlin (Germany), Universitetet i Stavanger (Norway), NTNU (Norway), Politecnico di Bari (Italy), Politecnico di Milano (Italy), Università di Palermo (Italy), Università di Pisa (Italy), Università di Padova (Italy), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (Portugal), and Universidade do Porto (Portugal) – the calendar is also proudly sponsored by the IFAC Activity Fund. The Ice-cold Festivities Arrangement Council International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC) is a global organization that promotes research and education in control engineering, which helps us manage and control complex systems in many aspects of life.
What is Automatic Control?
Automatic control is all around us! It’s the science of making systems work on their own to achieve specific goals without needing constant input from humans. Imagine things like cruise control in cars, autopilot on airplanes, or even robots in factories. Control engineers use math, technology, and problem-solving skills to design systems that respond correctly to different situations. From climate control in buildings to advanced medical devices, automatic control is key to improving and managing countless technologies we rely on every day.
What to expect?
From December 1st to December 24th, a new question will be revealed each day on our dedicated website. These questions are designed to be accessible, fun, and relatable, offering participants a light-hearted way to understand fundamental control principles without needing a technical background. The solution will include an explanation of the question’s relevance to everyday issues and control engineering careers.
Who can participate?
Participation is encouraged for students, enthusiasts, and curious minds from all over the world. Whether you’re a high school student, a university attendee, or someone simply interested in learning more about control engineering, this calendar offers something for everyone!
Awards and Recognition
To celebrate the diverse range of participants, certificates will be awarded in various categories based on country and occupation, such as “Best High School Student in Norway” or “Best University Student in Spain.” The creation of specific awards will depend on sufficient participation within a country or occupation. If this is not achieved, countries or occupations may be grouped according to the United Nations geoscheme to ensure fair and inclusive recognition. Points are awarded for correct answers, with maximum points given if the question is answered within 24 hours of its publication. After this period, points will gradually decrease until the solution is revealed on the website on January 1st, 2025.
Join Us!
Join us in spreading awareness of control engineering in a fun and festive way. Test your problem-solving skills, and maybe even win an award!
Organizing Committee:
Prof. Steffi Knorn (TU Berlin)
Dr. Damiano Rotondo (Universitetet i Stavanger)
Dr. Helem Sánchez (Hafrsfjord Skole)
Prof. Damiano Varagnolo (NTNU/Università di Padova)