Troy, N.Y. - Murat Arcak, assistant professor of electrical, computer, and systems engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, was awarded a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation.

Brain Trust
The CAREER Award, which carries with it a $400,000 grant, is the most prestigious award given to young faculty members. Twenty-two (22) young Rensselaer researchers have received CAREER Awards in the past four years. This underscores a critical mass of scientific brain power that will be responsible for future innovations in biotechnology, nanotechnology, and information technology.

Arcak will use the grant to advance his study of nonlinear control systems, and to apply them to fuel cells. His research could bridge the gap to affordable fuel cell technologies for a range of applications. Flexible control systems that can react to the variables in the environment or differing operating conditions are key to fuel cell systems.

Cruise Control
Nonlinear control systems are critical to engineers who seek to design multipurpose, multifunction systems that can operate flawlessly in a variety of conditions.

Cruise controls that keep your car under the radar, traffic light turn signals that flash at the appropriate time, and even a toaster that repeatedly browns your bread are all examples of control systems.

"For instance, say I am in my car that is powered by a fuel cell and I'm stopped at a red light," says Arcak, who joined Rensselaer in 2001. "My car must be able to easily accelerate from zero to 60 mph. To accomplish this, the control systems and sensors must accommodate the changing needs of the engine throughout every phase of that car's acceleration."

Arcak is developing the mathematical foundations that can describe and model such a system. The challenges, he says, are that the models cannot be too precise, as they must be robust for multiple applications, and they must be easily implemented in a real system.

New Course for Undergrads
Arcak will use a portion of the grant money to develop a new course in nonlinear control systems for undergraduates. Given the rigor of the discipline it is usually reserved for graduate study, but Arcak says he plans a senior-level course which would be more friendly and introductory.

"My hope is that people who are not even interested in the area of control systems should be able to take my course because nonlinear phenomena appear in other areas, such as biological applications and communication networks," Arcak says.

Contact: Theresa Bourgeois
Phone: (518) 276-2840
E-mail: bourgt@rpi.edu