Dr. Binyan Xu received her PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Victoria in 2024. She joined the School of Engineering at the University of Guelph as an Assistant Professor in 2024.
Xu's research interests span from theoretical development to practical applications of system and control theory, focusing on enhancing the intelligence, efficiency, and reliability of autonomous mechatronic systems. A consistent focus of her research involves understanding potential control challenges in real-world applications, characterizing physical processes using mathematical tools, designing advanced and synthetic control strategies based on mathematical models of real processes, and bridging the gap between theory and implementation. Current key areas of focus include:
Receding Horizon Optimization: Xu explores novel receding horizon optimization-based strategies, including model predictive control and moving horizon estimation, to improve real-time decision-making in autonomous systems. Her work in this area aims to develop control algorithms that can anticipate future events and adjust actions dynamically with optimized performance.
Fault Detection, Isolation and Tolerance: Xu investigates innovative methods for fault detection, isolation, and tolerance based on online learning, to enhance the reliability and safety of autonomous systems. Her research aims to preserve systems' performance against potential failures and attacks, particularly in networked settings.
Multi-rate Hierarchical Control: Xu develops control systems with hierarchical architectures and multiple sampling rates that allow for the efficient operation of large-scale control systems.
Navigation and Control for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Xu seeks to address challenges related to UAVs operating in dynamic and uncertain environments, with applications ranging from agriculture to urban planning.