The front page illustrations explained

Identifiability map

The figure shows the identifiability map of one specific dynamic system - that is, two parameters (on the horizontal and vertical axes) reveal how easily one can determine the system parameters. Just for the narrow region printed in yellow color the identifiability is good. For more information see the related publication. (Professor Heikki Hyötyniemi)

Ball balancing demonstration

The device demonstrates how to balance of ball in the middle of a convex surface. Doing this manually can be surprisingly difficult. The device locates the ball with machine vision (partial diagram in the picture) and moves it by tilting the surface. The system will be displayed at the Finnish Science Center Heureka. (Jari Kostamo)

Student laboratory experiment Halvari

State feedback control and optimal control are key concepts in this student laboratory experiment. The students first create a four-state model of the unstable system, a ball on two curved rails, then construct an optimal controller. The system is simulated on computer and compared to the real-world behavior of the equipment. (Pasi Riihimäki)

Measurement of nano Newton forces

The picture shows a 40 micron diameter sphere attached on an AFM (Atomic Force Microscope) tip. The sphere is attached by our microassembly station and bonded using ultraviolet light. The purpose is to measure force distributions near the surfaces of microparts for better modeling and understanding of micromanipulation. This work is related to the AHAA project. (Quan Zhou)

Walker simulation model

This biped (two-legged) walker simulation model, developed with Matlab/Simulink, enables us to test and compare different control solutions. Currently, an adaptive, principal component regression based controller is being developed to optimize, for example, the energy used in walking. (Olli Haavisto)

The TUAS building

The laboratory is located (from 27 Oct, 2003) in the TUAS building, which houses the Departments of Automation and Systems Technology and of Industrial Management.

Senaatti-kiinteistöjen ja Teknillisen korkeakoulun rakennuksesta järjestämän suunnittelukilpailun voitti vuonna 2001 arkkitehtitoimisto Hyvämäki-Karhunen-Parkkinen ehdotuksellaan PALAPOLI. Voittajan valinnut palkintolautakunta piti kilpailun tasoa erinomaisena. "Rakennus sopeutuu ja sopeuttaa; se kunnioittaa Otaniemen rakennuskantaa suorastaan nöyristelemättä sitä. Se synnyttää imagoltaan itsenäisen ja ympäristöä rikastuttavan lisän", palkintolautakunta selvitti valintaansa. PALAPOLI tulee edustamaan pehmeätä punatiilimonumentalismia. Rakennus sijoittuu kiinteästi Otaniementien varteen täyttömaa-alueelle ja tontin pohjoisosa muodostaa tällöin hyvän suoja-vyöhykkeen Laajalahden luonnonsuojelualueelle. (TKK Nyt)