Dimensioning and characterisation of an EWOD-driven chipintegrated micropump using time-resolved simulations. - In: MikroSystemTechnik, (2021), S. 531-534
Simulation model and dimensioning of a photoacoustic sensor for the detection of radiation-induced pressure surges. - In: MikroSystemTechnik, (2021), S. 523-526
Predictive path following control without terminal constraints. - In: Recent advances in model predictive control, (2021), S. 1-26
Freeform direct laser writing of versatile topological 3D scaffolds enabled by intrinsic support hydrogel. - In: Materials Horizons, ISSN 2051-6355, Bd. 8 (2021), 12, S. 3334-3344
In this study, a novel approach to create arbitrarily shaped 3D hydrogel objects is presented, wherein freeform two-photon polymerization (2PP) is enabled by the combination of a photosensitive hydrogel and an intrinsic support matrix. This way, topologies without physical contact such as a highly porous 3D network of concatenated rings were realized, which are impossible to manufacture with most current 3D printing technologies. Micro-Raman and nanoindentation measurements show the possibility to control water uptake and hence tailor the Young's modulus of the structures via the light dosage, proving the versatility of the concept regarding many scaffold characteristics that makes it well suited for cell specific cell culture as demonstrated by cultivation of human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes.
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1MH00925G
Reservoir computing with delayed input for fast and easy optimisation. - In: Entropy, ISSN 1099-4300, Bd. 23 (2021), 12, 1560, S. 1-13
Reservoir computing is a machine learning method that solves tasks using the response of a dynamical system to a certain input. As the training scheme only involves optimising the weights of the responses of the dynamical system, this method is particularly suited for hardware implementation. Furthermore, the inherent memory of dynamical systems which are suitable for use as reservoirs mean that this method has the potential to perform well on time series prediction tasks, as well as other tasks with time dependence. However, reservoir computing still requires extensive task-dependent parameter optimisation in order to achieve good performance. We demonstrate that by including a time-delayed version of the input for various time series prediction tasks, good performance can be achieved with an unoptimised reservoir. Furthermore, we show that by including the appropriate time-delayed input, one unaltered reservoir can perform well on six different time series prediction tasks at a very low computational expense. Our approach is of particular relevance to hardware implemented reservoirs, as one does not necessarily have access to pertinent optimisation parameters in physical systems but the inclusion of an additional input is generally possible.
https://doi.org/10.3390/e23121560
A dissipativity characterization of velocity turnpikes in optimal control problems for mechanical systems. - In: IFAC-PapersOnLine, ISSN 2405-8963, Bd. 54 (2021), 9, S. 624-629
Turnpikes have recently gained significant research interest in optimal control, since they allow for pivotal insights into the structure of solutions to optimal control problems. So far, mainly steady state solutions which serve as optimal operation points, are studied. This is in contrast to time-varying turnpikes, which are in the focus of this paper. More concretely, we analyze symmetry-induced velocity turnpikes, i.e. controlled relative equilibria, called trim primitives, which are optimal operation points regarding the given cost criterion. We characterize velocity turnpikes by means of dissipativity inequalities. Moreover, we study the equivalence between optimal control problems and steady-state problems via the corresponding necessary optimality conditions. An academic example is given for illustration.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2021.06.125
Some notes on port-Hamiltonian systems on Banach spaces. - In: IFAC-PapersOnLine, ISSN 2405-8963, Bd. 54 (2021), 19, S. 223-229
We consider port-Hamiltonian systems from a functional analytic perspective. Dirac structures and Hamiltonians on Banach spaces are introduced, and an energy balance is proven. Further, we consider port-Hamiltonian systems on Banach manifolds, and we present some physical examples that fit into the presented theory.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2021.11.082
On MPC without terminal conditions for dynamic non-holonomic robots. - In: IFAC-PapersOnLine, ISSN 2405-8963, Bd. 54 (2021), 6, S. 133-138
We consider an input-constrained differential-drive robot with actuator dynamics. For this system, we establish asymptotic stability of the origin on arbitrary compact, convex sets using Model Predictive Control (MPC) without stabilizing terminal conditions despite the presence of state constraints and actuator dynamics. We note that the problem without those two additional ingredients was essentially solved beforehand, despite the fact that the linearization is not stabilizable. We propose an approach successfully solving the task at hand by combining the theory of barriers to characterize the viability kernel and an MPC framework based on so-called cost controllability. Moreover, we present a numerical case study to derive quantitative bounds on the required length of the prediction horizon. To this end, we investigate the boundary of the viability kernel and a neighbourhood of the origin, i.e. the most interesting areas.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2021.08.535
Dialysis diffusion kinetics in polymer purification. - In: Macromolecules, ISSN 1520-5835, Bd. 54 (2021), 20, S. 9410-9417
Diffusion kinetics of a prior developed automated dialysis system are investigated via in situ NMR spectroscopy for an optimization of conventional and advanced polymer purification. Using a polymeric solution, mixed with the respective monomer, several parameters like starting concentration, solvent volume, and solvent exchange by flow or complete one-time exchange are varied, resulting in a significant decrease of purification time for the automated setup. With an increased solvent flow (from 0.9 to 5.5 mL/min), 5.4 h and 2000 mL of solvent are required to decrease the monomer concentration to the detection limit. Without solvent flow, which corresponds to conventional dialysis, only 9 h and 250 mL of solvent are required for the same result, which is a time- and solvent-saving development for common purification of polymers.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.1c01241
Textured and hierarchically constructed polymer micro- and nanoparticles. - In: Applied Sciences, ISSN 2076-3417, Bd. 11 (2021), 21, 10421, S. 1-17
Microfluidic techniques allow for the tailored construction of specific microparticles, which are becoming increasingly interesting and relevant. Here, using a microfluidic hole-plate-device and thermal-initiated free radical polymerization, submicrometer polymer particles with a highly textured surface were synthesized. Two types of monomers were applied: (1) methylmethacrylate (MMA) combined with crosslinkers and (2) divinylbenzene (DVB). Surface texture and morphology can be influenced by a series of parameters such as the monomer-crosslinker-solvent composition, surfactants, and additives. Generally, the most structured surfaces with the simultaneously most uniform particles were obtained in the DVB-toluene-nonionic-tensides system. In a second approach, poly-MMA (PMMA) particles were used to build aggregates with bigger polymer particles. For this purpose, tripropyleneglycolediacrylate (TPGDA) particles were synthesized in a microfluidic co-flow arrangement and polymerized by light- irradiation. Then, PMMA particles were assembled at their surface. In a third step, these composites were dispersed in an aqueous acrylamide-methylenebisacrylamide solution, which again was run through a co-flow-device and photopolymerized. As such, entities consisting of particles of three different size ranges - typically 0.7/30/600 [my]m - were obtained. The particles synthesized by both approaches are potentially suitable for loading with or incorporation of analytic probes or catalysts such as dyes or metals.
https://doi.org/10.3390/app112110421