Course content

The course is organized for PhD students to target advanced topics within the themes of marine control engineering and/or marine hybrid power systems. The learning is generally organized as a self-study with some common lectures and colloquies for discussion of relevant theories and methods. The aim is for the PhD candidates to specify and learn advanced theories and methods for marine technology systems related to modeling, simulation, optimization, artificial intelligence, feedback control, real-time state estimation, model-based or data-driven detection/prediction, or functions of autonomous systems, cyberphysical systems, and digital twins.

Each student will define an individual advanced subject of study, beyond the scopes of the prerequisite MTech courses (TMR4240/4243/4290), in agreement with the course teacher and course responsible at the start of the academic year (fall semester). Some semesters the course will be announced and set to a specific topic on which we invite a recognized national or international guest researcher to lecture on.

Learning outcome

Knowledge: At the end of the course, the student should be able to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the studied topics on an advanced control and/or power engineering level for marine technology systems, taken from the themes of modeling, simulation, optimization, artificial intelligence, feedback control, real-time state estimation, model-based or data-driven detection/prediction, autonomous systems, or digital twin methods.

Skills: At the end of the course, the student should be able to:

• explain the background theory of the studied topic and apply this with a clear rationale to the derivation and implementation of advanced models, methods, and algorithms, verification in a simulator or digital twin function, and performing critical analysis of results;
• provide a clear and concise formulation of a studied problem or research question; and
• demonstrate proficiency in why and how to the use relevant methods for solving the specified problems.

General competency: By participation and completion of the course, the student should:

• write a journal paper with a clear and concise exposition of problem formulation, method development, simulations, critical analysis of results, and conclusions;
• orally present the results of the project in a clear and efficient manner, within time limits; and
• conduct academic studies and written work in an honest and ethical manner, without any sort of plagiarism and misconduct in the coursework, project papers, and presentations.

Learning methods and activities

The learning is generally conducted as a guided self-study course with common colloquies for discussion of relevant topics within the main control and power engineering themes. The course is started each fall semester and continue throughout the spring semester, given sufficiently many students that are registered. Each student will be assigned to the most relevant teacher registered with the course. Some semesters the course may be lectured in a traditional way by an invited guest lecturer, possibly based on traditional lectures, exercises, and a project.

The learning will go into a project to be defined by each student, formulated through a clear problem statement. This shall result in a brief journal-style paper and an oral evaluation on studied theories/methods and project results - both counting on the grade.

Further on evaluation

The project report is a mandatory submission. The assessment is by oral examination (100%), where the candidate presents the project results and answers questions on the course theory and project work

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

Knowledge of modeling, simulation, control, estimation, and optimization for marine systems corresponding to a MSc in control engineering or in electric power systems.

Nonlinear systems theory based on Hassan Khalil's book "Nonlinear Systems" or equivalent is strongly recommended.

Required previous knowledge

If studying control engineering topics:

• TMR4240 Marine Control Systems I (or equivalent upon approval)
• TMR4243 Marine Control Systems II (or equivalent upon approval)

If studying hybrid power system topics:

• TMR4290 Marine Electric Power and Propulsion Systems (or equivalent upon approval)

Course materials

Will be agreed at the start of the semester based on defined subjects or guest lectures.