Applied Mathematics - University of Washington

AMATH University             
  of Washington

Movement Control Laboratory

Current Projects
Control theory that enables faster algorithms
Robot design and control
Simulation of multi-joint dynamics with contact
Reverse engineering the brain's control mechanisms
Control for brain-machine interfaces
Group Members
Emo Todorov
Alex Simpkins
Yuval Tassa
Dvijotham Krishnamurthy
Paul Kulchenko
Mingyuan Zhong
Chunyan Hu
Vikash Kumar
Ben Huh
Mike Kelley
Rob Mabery
Research Focus
The focus of our research is intelligent control in biology and engineering. We believe that the key to achieving dynamic intelligence is optimization. In biology, motor behavior is shaped by processes (evolution, learning, adaptation) that resemble iterative optimization. In engineering, perhaps the best way to build a truly complex controller that actually works is to specify a high-level performance criterion, and leave the details of the design process to numerical optimization. We are pursuing multiple lines of research spanning many traditional disciplines: control engineering, computer science, robotics, neuroscience, psychology, (bio) mechanics, applied mathematics. Despite their interdisciplinary nature, all these efforts are aimed at a common goal: understanding and synthesizing dynamic intelligence through learning and optimization.
Publications and software
(all publications)
(all software)
Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Washington, Lewis Hall #202, Box 353925, Seattle, WA 98195-3925 USA
Email 'info' (at amath.washington.edu) Phone 206-543-5493 Fax 206-685-1440