Mechatronics, Automation, and Control Systems Laboratory
(MACS Lab) (Move, Act, Create, Serve)
methods
Control-oriented system modeling and identification, information fusion, adaptive and learning controls, robust control, precision mechatronics, and optimization.
Sample projects
Additive manufacturing, agile robots, semiconductor manufacturing, nm-scale precision control, vision-based control, human-machine interaction, and vibration rejection.
Sponsors
National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, NASA, Department of Defense, UTC Institute of Advanced Systems Engineering, and industries.
Note: We are not recruiting any more new PhD students in 2023.
Selected Research Outcomes
Work from the MACS lab has been supported by the National Science Foundation, UTC Institute of Advanced Systems Engineering, Department of Energy, Department of Defense, NASA, and industries. Dr. Chen is a recipient of the National Science Foundation CAREER award, the SME Sandra L. Bouckley Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award, and the Young Investigator Award from the ISCIE / ASME International Symposium on Flexible Automation. Members of the MACS lab have received Best Paper Award from the International Symposium on Flexible Automation, Best Vibrations Paper Award, Best Student Paper Awards on Mechatronics and Robotics from the ASME Dynamic Systems and Control Division, Best Senior Design, and best paper in session awards in various conferences.
research snapshots
We conduct systematic research on mass customization, short-run and high-value manufacturing, and controls of complex systems.
Additive manufacturing
Control in different time scales: from precision laser-material interaction for aerospace and medical application to process reconfiguration and reclaiming materials.
robotics and learning FROM limited feedback
Robot control and collaborative sensing for systematic fast control under slow e.g. vision feedback.
Adaptive control
We were among the 3 teams that achieved the top results in an international benchmark on adaptive regulation.
tactile Sensing for Intelligent Control
We introduced a physics-informed, data-driven approach to continuously detect slip using the optical tactile sensor and demonstrated application in real-time slip detection and prevention in a dynamic robotic manipulation task.
Recent news
MACS lab attended MECC conference at Lake Tahoe
The MACS lab participated in the Modeling, Estimation, and Control Conference (MECC) held at Lake Tahoe. During the event, we hosted a workshop covering a range of topics, including part segmentation, viewpoint generation, camera control, robot controls, and the application of AI for highly precise robotic inspection (Colin Acton, Arun…
2023 SUMMER GRADUATION
🎉 Congratulations to Apra Venkatesh, Dylan Sun, Mike K Kaiwi, and Win Sheng Khoo on completing their master’s degrees! 🎓 We wish them all the best as they embark on exciting new journeys at their respective destinations: PACCAR, Trinity Consultants, Boeing, and ASM. May their future endeavors be filled with…
PI AND CONTACT
Xu Chen
Bryan T. McMinn Endowed Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Washington
- 3900 E Stevens Way NE, MEB 325, Seattle, WA 98195
- chx@uw.edu
- 206-543-5705