HELLO, I'M
Alexandra-Iulia
SZEDLAK-STÎNEAN
Vice-Dean and Lecturer at Politehnica University of Timisoara
Alexandra-Iulia
SZEDLAK-STÎNEAN
Vice-Dean and Lecturer
Politehnica University of Timisoara
Faculty of Automation and Computers
Department of Automation and Applied Informatics
Bd. V. Parvan 2
RO-300223 Timisoara
Romania
E-mail: alexandra.szedlak-stinean@upt.ro alexandra.szedlak-stinean@aut.upt.ro
Phone: +40-256403213
+40-256403229
Nonlinear observers-based control structures applied to mechatronics systems
PN-III-P1-1.1-PD-2016-0331
Mechatronics systems are successfully used in many industrial and non-industrial applications because of their initial simple and robust structure. The degree of complexity of the control subsystem of a mechatronics application differs from one application to another and may include relatively simple and advanced control structures as well. The development of advanced control solutions is a relatively difficult problem which requires a detailed preliminary study of the process, particularly the parameters variability and of its structural properties. As a continuation of previous research in this project the approach oriented on the analysis, synthesis, modeling and development of modern control solutions, such as nonlinear observers is proposed.
The main objective of this proposal is to develop the necessary tools, modern control solutions and theoretical framework for later multi-purpose applications related to mechatronics systems.
The potential impact to the scientific field may be significant because through new concepts and employed approaches, a new way for the use of highly advanced control designs in mechatronics applications is open. The construction of nonlinear observers still provides an open research field because advances in this area often face many obstacles, such as, for example, the very restrictive conditions that have to be satisfied, uncertainty in the performance and robustness and/or poor estimation results. However, the control systems should benefit from the advantages of the continued analytical development and implementation of dynamic model-based nonlinear observers that promise to improve the performance of different types of mechatronics systems. In the project all mechatronics applications tackled are interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary themselves, with special focus on those applicable cost-effective training systems in the fields of robotics, automation and process control.
During 01.10.2019 - 30.11.2021 the contract was suspended, the reason for the interruption being the entry into maternity leave
Education
WHAT I’VE LEARNED
Experience
WHERE I’VE WORKED
2010–2014
Ph.D. in Systems Engineering at the Department of Automation and Applied Informatics, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Romania.
Json Inc., Campus Brand Ambassador
2008–2010
M.Sc. thesis in Automatic Systems at Automation and Computers Faculty, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Romania.
May 2016–August 2016
Sterling Productions, Marketing Intern
2003–2008
Dipl. Eng. degree in Systems and Computer Engineering at Automation and Computers Faculty, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Romania.
Sep. 2015–May 2016
Riverview University Foundation, Sales Consultant
Education
WHAT I’VE LEARNED
2010–2014
Ph.D. in Systems Engineering at the Department of Automation and Applied Informatics, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Romania
Experience
WHERE I’VE WORKED
Dec. 2022–Present
Vice-Dean at the Faculty of Automation and Computers, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Romania
Feb. 2018–Present
2008–2010
M.Sc. thesis in Automatic Systems at Faculty of Automation and Computers, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Romania
Lecturer within the Department of Automation and Applied Informatics, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Romania
2015–2018
As. Lecturer within the Department of Automation and Applied Informatics, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Romania
2003–2008
Dipl. Eng. degree in Systems and Computer Engineering at Faculty of Automation and Computers, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Romania
1999–2003
Undergraduate studies in Mathematics-Informatics at the National College “Aurel Vlaicu” Theoretical High School, Orastie, Romania
2010–2012
Teacher of Informatics and Information Technology and Communications for students at the National College “Constantin Diaconovici Loga”, Timisoara, Romania
2009–2010
Teacher of Informatics and Information Technology and Communications for students at the National College “Coriolan Brediceanu”, Lugoj, Romania
FUNDING ID
Past research grants:
2021-2023:
member of the national research grant National Research Grant Human Resources Exploratory Research Projects 2020 entitled "Data-driven fuzzy control with experimental validation", 243000 EUR, financed by the Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding (PCE, UEFISCDI), director: Prof. Radu-Emil PRECUP, UPT.
2020-2022:
member of the national research grant National Research Grant Human Resources Young Teams Research Projects 2019 entitled "Fuzzy controllers for shape memory alloys systems", 89000 EUR, financed by the Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding (TE, UEFISCDI), director: Assoc. Prof. Claudia-Adina Bojan-Dragos, UPT.
2015–2017:
member of the national research grant Young Teams “Learning techniques for improving control systems performance using model-free approaches”, 83114 EUR, financed by the Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding (TE, UEFISCDI), director: Lect. Mircea-Bogdan Radac, UPT.
2014–2017:
member of the UPT partner in the research project “Experimental model for an automatic capacitive compensator designed for improving the power factor and for load balancing in low-voltage electricity distribution networks” (CAEREDJT), director of the UPT partner: Assoc. Prof. Adrian Pana
2014–2017:
member of the UPT partner in the research project “Advanced control systems for bioprocesses in food industry” (ADCOSBIO), 238637 EUR, national joint applied research project (PCCA, UEFISCDI), director: Prof. Dan Selisteanu, University of Craiova, director of the UPT partner: Prof. Radu-Emil Precup
2014–2017:
member of the UPT partner in the research project “Advanced control system of a biorefinery plant” (BIOCON), 284091 EUR (PCCA, UEFISCDI), director: Prof. Sergiu Caraman, “Lower Danube” University of Galati, director of the UPT partner: Prof. Radu-Emil Precup
2012–2016:
member of the UPT partner in the research project “Software products based on artificial intelligence algorithms applied to modelling and optimization of chemical systems” (AISoftChim), 362903 EUR (PCCA, UEFISCDI), director: Prof. Silvia Curteanu, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, director of the UPT partner: Prof. Radu-Emil Precup
2011–2016:
member of the UPT partner in the research project “New performance improvement techniques of control systems using experiment-based tuning”, 339907 EUR, national exploratory research grant (PCE, UEFISCDI), director: Prof. Radu-Emil Precup
Current Interests:
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control structures and algorithms (conventional control, fuzzy control, neuro-fuzzy control, predictive control, adaptive control, sliding mode control);
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control applications in mechatronics systems, servo-systems, electrical drives; nature-inspired optimization;
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linear and nonlinear observers-based control structures applied to mechatronics systems;
The responsibilities within my professional experience:
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Teaching activities (2014–present) at several disciplines such as: System Theory and Automatization (laboratories, B.Sc. program in Computer and Information Technology), Computer Assisted Mathematics (laboratories, B.Sc. program in Automation and Applied Informatics (AAI)), Optimization Techniques (laboratories, B.Sc. program in AAI), Structures and Algorithms for Automatic Process Control (laboratories + projects, B.Sc. program in AAI), Elements of Automatic Control (laboratories, B.Sc. program in Power Systems), Automatic Control Technique (laboratories, B.Sc. program in Electrical Engineering), Computer Assisted Mathematics (course and laboratories, B.Sc. program in Computer Science ID), Multi-agent Systems (course and laboratories, master program Applied Information Systems in Production and Services), Robotics (course and laboratories, master program Machine Learning), Computer Assisted Mathematics (course and laboratories, B, Sc. program in Computers and Information Technology – English).
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Ongoing research: control systems design, implementation and optimization, process modeling and simulation, real-time experimenting and validation on laboratory equipments, writing scientific papers, presentations at conferences, reviewer for conferences and journals.
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Organizational skills: member of B.Sc. and M.Sc. theses defense committees, member of admission contests committees, conference registration staff, promoting actions for the home university across the country, on-site presentations of the laboratories where I work in.