NTC: Distinguished Lecture Series presents Professor Dennis Bernstein

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Navy TechConnect: Distinguished Lecture Series presents Professor Dennis Bernstein!

Monday, April 27, 2026

TechGrid: 221 W. Inyokern Rd. Ridgecrest, CA 93555

11:30am-12:30pm

Title: “Feedback Control of Autonomous Vehicles with Highly Under-modeled Dynamics"

Dennis Bernstein

Aerospace Engineering Department

University of Michigan

Bio – Dennis Bernstein is the James E. Knott Professor of Engineering in the Aerospace Engineering Department at the University of Michigan. He is a graduate of Brown University and the University of Michigan. Prior to joining the University of Michigan, he was employed by Lincoln Laboratory and Harris Corporation. His interests are in all aspects of systems and control for aerospace engineering.

Abstract: Successful applications of feedback control---such as UAVs and robots---suggest that the field has reached maturity. In the motivational introduction, I will explain why these systems are relatively easy to control, whereas others---such as flexible aircraft, scramjet engines, and nuclear fusion---are much more challenging. In the technical heart of the talk, I will show---contrary to conventional thinking---that fast online identification and model predictive control can learn enough about “most” systems for reliable control despite highly under-modeled dynamics. Finally, in the provocative conclusion, I will argue that feedback control differs fundamentally from other aerospace disciplines since its objective is to manipulate reality despite modeling limitations.

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