Abstract: This talk aims to illustrate the creativity, challenge and professional enjoyment associated with the invention, design and control of mechatronic systems. Example systems include a life-saving locomotive bumper, a magnetically coupled MEMS sensor, an electromagnetic launch system, an energy storage system, a magnetic bearing system, a pediatric maglev artificial heart, a guided-catheter system and a high-speed switching mechanism. While modeling, control and optimization are essential ingredients in mechatronic systems, the large design and application spaces of mechatronic systems compel us to place a high value on innovation at the level of system architectures - this point is illustrated throughout the talk.

Bio: Brad E. Paden is a professor of mechanical engineering at UC Santa Barbara, with affiliated appointments in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Technology Management Program. He is also co-founder and chairman of LaunchPoint Technologies Inc. Paden is a Fellow of ASME, IEEE and AIMBE. He was the recipient of the 2010 ASME DSCD Draper Award for innovative practice, the 2001 IEEE Control Systems Society Technology Award and the 1993 Kalman Best Paper Award from the ASME Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement, and Control. Paden has co-authored more than 80 publications and holds 18 patents in the field of engineering systems.