The last decade has seen a wealth of emerging applications of modern control theory which has served the field well for more than 50 years and has lead to many successful stories in the past. The emerging applications include smart grid, smart transportation systems, sensor networks and complex systems, financial engineering, synthetic biology, cyber-physical systems, etc. Each of the aforementioned application involves integration of control theory with other theories such as information theory, networking theory, communication theory, etc., to various degrees, and requires complex decision-making and system optimization across different layers and at different levels. In most of these applications, practice leads the theory, in contrast to most cases where theoretical development is more advanced than their practical counterparts. The theories underpinning these applications are still in infancy and are largely unexplored, which make them heated research topics in recent years.

The one-day workshop consists of five talks given by internationally eminent scholars, leading researchers, and industry leaders in representatives of the aforementioned emerging control applications, specifically, in smart grid and smart transportation (by Prof Pravin Varaiya), networked control systems (by Prof Wing Shing Wong),  financial engineering (by Prof Xiren Cao), complex dynamical systems (by Prof Guanrong Chen), and unmanned aerial vehicles (Mr Tao Wang, CEO of DJI Innovations). The five experts will share with us their recent research and development in these frontiers of control theory and their views on the future research directions.

The workshop is free and open to all. For better planning of refreshment and other logistics, intended participants are strongly urged to register online in advance.