Xuan
From SYSOS
Xuan Zhang
D.Phil (Ph.D) Candidate, University of Oxford
• SySOS
• Control Group, Department of Engineering Science
Background
I am currently a third year D.Phil student in Control Engineering in Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford. My supervisor is Dr. Antonis Papachristodoulou. Before joining Oxford, I received my B.Eng degree from Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, China, in 2011.
Research Interests
• Networked systems: optimization and control for smart power networks, network congestion control, consensus of multi-agent systems
• Convex optimization
• Nonlinear dynamical systems: stability and robust analysis
Research Experience
• A real-time control framework for smart power networks
-- October 2011-present
-- D.Phil research project, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford
-- Supervisor: Antonis Papachristodoulou
-- Designed a decentralized feedback architecture that realized real-time economic optimization for smart power networks. Detailed work includes optimization decomposition, stability analysis, performance/robustness improvement, system analysis with time delays, etc.
• Hover and flip control for quadrotor helicopters
-- January 2011-June 2011
-- Graduation project, Institute of Control Theory and Technology, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University
-- Supervisor: Yisheng Zhong
-- Developed a simulation platform for the control design for quadrotor helicopters, which was implemented in Matlab Simulink. Designed PD, PID, fuzzy PD, fuzzy PID controllers for the hover of an XAircraft 650 quadrotor helicopter. Tested the PD controller on the quadrotor helicopter and achieved good performances. Designed Trajectory Linearization Control (TLC) schemes for the flip of the quadrotor helicopter, the effectiveness of which was verified through simulations.
• Face detection and recognition for rescue robots
-- July 2010-August 2010
-- Summer project, Navigation and Control Research Center, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University
-- Supervisor: Tao Zhang
-- Developed parts of a C++ (OpenCV) programme that implemented remote communication, face detection, face recognition and video stream processing for rescue robots. Implemented the programme on a robot vehicle and achieved good performances.
• Reinforcement learning for traffic signal control
-- October 2009-May 2010
-- Student research training project, Institute of System Engineering, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University
-- Supervisor: Yi Zhang
-- Designed a new self-adaptive control algorithm based on reinforcement learning for urban traffic signal control. Implemented the algorithm in Green Light District (a Java simulator for intelligent transportation system), which behaved more efficiently than several traditional traffic signal control methods.
Publications
7. D. Bauso, A. Papachristodoulou and X. Zhang, Consensus through Mean-field Games in Network Flow Problems. In International Symposium on Communications, Control, and Signal Processing (ISCCSP), 2014. Submitted.
6. D. Bauso, X. Zhang and A. Papachristodoulou, Consensus on Path Density in Network Flow Problems. In European Control Conference, 2014. Submitted.
5. X. Zhang and A. Papachristodoulou, Improving the Performance of Network Congestion Control Algorithms. IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, 2013. Submitted.
4. X. Zhang and A. Papachristodoulou, A Distributed PID Controller for Network Utility Maximization Problems. In American Control Conference, 2014. Submitted.
3. X. Zhang and A. Papachristodoulou, Decentralized Dynamic Feedback Control for Smart Power Networks with Tree Topology. In American Control Conference, 2014. Submitted.
2. X. Zhang and A. Papachristodoulou, A Real-time Control Framework for Smart Power Networks: Design Methodology, Stability and Performance. IEEE Transaction on Smart Grid, 2013. Submitted.
1. X. Zhang and A. Papachristodoulou, A Real-time Control Framework for Smart Power Networks with Star Topology. In Proceedings of the American Control Conference, Washington, DC, June 2013. [1]
Theses
1. X. Zhang, Hover and Flip Control for Quadrotor Helicopters. Bachelor thesis, Tsinghua University, China, June 2011. [2]
Miscellaneous
1. X. Zhang and A. Papachristodoulou, A Real-time Control Framework for the Future Power Gird. Contributed poster in 32nd CNLS Annual Conference, Optimization and Control for Smart Grids, Santa Fe, NM, May 2012.
Teaching Experience
• 2012-2013: Demonstrator, 2nd Year Helicopter Control Lab, University of Oxford
• 2011-2012: Demonstrator, 2nd Year Helicopter Control Lab, University of Oxford
Contact Information
• Email: xuan.zhang@eng.ox.ac.uk
• Department Address: Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PJ, United Kingdom