Control theory provides a set of mathematical representations and analytical tools for understanding and design complex, interconnected, decision-making systems.  Key principles include the role feedback as a mechanism for providing robust performance in the presence of uncertainty and the role of feedback as a means of designing the dynamics of an interconnected system.  Feedback can be used to create modularity and shape well-defined relations between inputs and outputs in a structured hierarchical manner, enabling the creation of robust, large-scale, complex systems.  In this set of talks, I will introduce the ideas from control theory in a manner that is intended to be accessible to scientists and engineers from a diverse of backgrounds, with an emphasis on the architectures and tools that might be useful in the contact of real-time decision-making systems.

The first session of this mini course will take place on Wednesday, January 24 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; the second session of this mini course will take place on Wednesday, January 24 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.