Automation and Control Institute (ACIN)

The Automation and Control Institute (ACIN) belongs to the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, TU Wien. With 50 employees, our institute does basic research, solves challenging practical problems in a number of cooperative projects with industry, develops innovations, and gives the students a profound research-oriented teaching in systems theory, automation and control. The institute is divided into the research areas complex dynamical systems robotic systems lab.

If you have any questions concerning research or teaching at our institute, if you have a challenging task to solve, or if you are interested in our consulting activities, please contact us!

 

 

Institute

Our institute does basic research in the field of industrial automation, cognitive robotics as well as in modeling, optimization and control of complex dynamical systems. We aim at applying the latest knowledge and advanced methods and technologies in our field of expertise to solve challenging practical problems. In our research, we always set a high value on the combination of the development of new theoretical concepts and applied research.

Research

Our institute is research partner of a number of major international and national companies both within cooperative projects and in an advisory capacity. Since we are working across all industries in the field of digitalization and automation we not only have a deep basic scientific knowledge but also a broad users’ perspective. In all our research projects, we endeavor to transfer the latest scientific methods and technologies into praxis and support our partners in developing (disruptive) innovations.

Academic Teaching

Our institute is responsible for the research-oriented teaching in the field of automation, modeling, systems theory and control engineering, process control, cognitive robotics, image processing, optimization and process identification supplemented by interdisciplinary lectures. In this context, particular attention is paid to provide a well-founded theoretical education and to offer the students the possibility to apply this knowledge to practical laboratory experiments by utilizing modern soft- and hardware tools.

Research groups at ACIN

Complex Dynamical Systems (CDS)

The Complex Dynamical Systems group does research in the field of modeling, simulation, analysis, optimization and control of complex dynamical systems as well as in image processing, sensor fusion, and cognitive robotics. The primary goal of our research is the improvement of the system behavior in view of the dynamic properties, the accuracy, the robustness, the reliability, the flexibility, the productivity, the overall equipment efficiency (energy, resources) by reducing the product costs at the same time. Read more →

Robotic Systems Lab (RSL)

Research in the Robotic Systems Lab is focused on new approaches for motion generation and feedback control of various robotic systems ranging from collaborative manipulators, compliant robots, to complex humanoids. Our research builds up on a solid basis of model-based nonlinear control in robotics and we utilize fundamental system properties, such as passivity or the existence of inertially decoupled coordinates, in the controller design. Additionally, we aim for a tailored balance between model-based system design and data-based control approaches for handling phenomena, for which an accurate model is hard to obtain. Read more →


Research labs at ACIN

Christian Doppler Laboratory for Intelligent Process Control for High-Quality Steel Products

The CD-Laboratory for Intelligent Process Control for High-Quality Steel Products conducts problem-oriented fundamental research on the analysis, planning, control, and optimization of typical production processes for high-quality flat steel products and conceptually similar production processes. The research is focused on continous casting, strip coating, and the direct control of material properties. Read more →

TUW/DLR Joint Laboratory on Human Centered Robotics

The TUW-DLR Joint Laboratory on Human Centered Robotics is a virtual Competence Center between TU Wien and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Read more →

Festo System Laboratory for Autonomous Handling Systems

The Festo System Laboratory is devoted to long-run topics of basic research and applied research. With this, ACIN and Festo AG strengthen their successful long-term cooperation in the field of autonomous handling systems. Read more →

Christian Doppler Laboratory for Model-Based Process Control in the Steel Industry

In the CD-Laboratory for Model-Based Process Control in the Steel Industry, control problems from the manufacturing process of steel strip are solved. The research is focussed on hot rolling, annealing, and galvanizing of steel strips. Read more →