Research
I feel the research in the area of Advanced Process Control is widely open with many challenging problems to be addressed using Machine Learning techniques. Chemical processes are highly nonlinear in nature. Capturing the nonlinear dynamics will improve the control loop performance in real-time applications. Machine Learning-based modeling techniques and controller design significantly improve the closed-loop performance. Recently, our team started using the ML for modelling of the Batch reactor and designed various nonlinear controllers for closed-loop tracking. Support Vector Machine concepts were used for the fault classification with real-time data captured.
Further, the research team is extensively working on the Reinforcement Learning, Q-Learning based NMPC with experimental validation. Recently the team started working on Physics Inspired Neural Networks(PINN) for the Batch Reactor and CSTR setups.
Currently, the research team is actively working on the data security for the sensor data’s from the pilot plant CSTR / Batch reactor towards the cloud computation using encryption and decryption techniques to protect data manipulation and vulnerabilities
Vision:
Mission:
Objectives:
- To develop models for nonlinear process systems using data-driven methods, first-principles modeling, and Physics-Informed Neural Networks.
- To design and simulate nonlinear Model Predictive Controllers integrated with advanced Machine Learning techniques.
- To validate the proposed Machine Learning–based control strategies using NVIDIA platforms and High-Performance Computing infrastructures.
Completed & On-going Research Projects
- “Investigation and Physical realization of 2DOF PID control with anti-reset windup for fast acting control loops”, Fast track for young scientist scheme, Dept. of Science and Technology, G.O.I., 2013-2016. – Status: Completed with excellent grade in the meeting held at IIT Madras during April 2017.
- “Design, Simulation and Implementation of Sliding Mode Controller for a Nonlinear Process: Conical tank level control”, Manipal University Post-Doctoral Research and Publications grant, Jan2013-Dec 2014, Status: Completed.
- “Kinetics Modeling and design of advanced nonlinear control algorithms for a pilot plant batch reactor”, MAHE(IoE) Seed money grant, Jan 2020-Dec 2021, Status: Completed.
- “Design and Implementation of SMC controller for a Quadrotor”, ISRO, G.O.I, July 2019-July 2022. Status: On-Going
- “Biofuels Production in lab scale Batch Reactor with Optimal Temperature Profile formation using Machine Learning Approach”, 2023, Seed money grant of MAHE, Status: On-Going.
- “Cyber Physical System Enabled Advanced Process Control Systems: Digital Twin Approach”, 2025 to 2027. Status: On-Going.
Ph.D Guidance
| S.No | Name | Title | Duration | Examiner |
| 1 | Dr.Vinayambika.S.Bhat (Full time) | Design and Validation of Robust Controller for Binary Distillation Column | 27th Dec 2014 – March 2018. Thesis submitted (MAHE) on 27th March 2018 VIVA VOCE held on 25th August 2018 | Dr.A.Ramakalyan Professor, Instrumentation and Control Engg., NIT Trichy |
| 2 | Dr.Cyril Joseph (Part time) | Controller Synthesis for Complementarity Hybrid Dynamical System | Thesis submitted (MAHE) in April 2018. VIVA VOCE held on Sep. 2018 | Dr.G.N.Pillai Professor EE, IIT-Rourke |
| 3. | Dr.Sarath Yadav (Full time) | Design, Implementation and Validation of Control Schemes on the Batch Distillation Column | 16th July 2016 – March 2020 Thesis submitted (MAHE) on 7th May 2020. VIVA VOCE Held On 5th Aug 2020 |
Dr.M.Chidambaram
Emeritus Professor-Chemical Engg
NIT Warangal
Ex-Director, NIT Trichy
Ex-Prof & Head, Chemical Engg., IIT Madras |
| 4 | Dr.R.Janani (Part time) | Design of Robust PID Controller for a Binary Distillation Column | Feb 2014-March 2020. Thesis submitted to SCSVMV Deemed University, Kanchipuram, May 2020. VIVA VOCE, 9th April 2021 |
Eng. FEDELE Giuseppe
Associate Professor
Department of Computer Engineering,Modeling, Electronics and Systems
University of Calabria, Italy. |
| 5 | Mr.Suraj Suresh Kumar | Design and Simulation of Advanced Non-Linear Controllers for MAV | His PhD guide Dr. V.I. George raised complaint with Malpractice in writing. | |
| 6 | Mr.Murugan Balakrishnan | Model Identification, Validation and Design of Artificial intelligence based Predictive Controller for a non- linear Process. | 2021, PhD registered in Dept of EIE, Annamalai University, Chidambaram | |
| 7 | Sagaya Lourdh Delcause | Machine Learning based Fault Detection on CSTR pilot plant | 2025, PhD registered in Dept of EIE, Annamalai University | |
| 8 | Mr. Anand. K | Implementation of Digital Twin Cloud Computation for a Pilot Plant Batch Reactor Trajectory Tracking | PhD Registration at School of Computer Engineering, MIT, MAHE, Manipal, 2025 | |
| 9 | S. Anusha | Experimental validation of Reinforcement Learning algorithm on a lab scale Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor | 2025, School of Computer Engineering, MIT Manipal |
Collaborators
| S.No | Name |
| 1. | Prof.(Dr) R. Vinodha Dept of Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering Annamalai University Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India |
| 2. | Dr. Arockiaraj. S Associate Professor Manipal School of Information Sciences. MAHE, Manipal – 576 104, Karnataka, India |
| 3. | Prof. (Dr.) Pappa. N Instrumentation Engineering Madras Institute of Technology Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| 4. | Dr. Gautham Jeppu Associate Professor Chemical Engineering MIT, Manipal |
| 5. | Dr. Kishore. B Associate Professor School of Computer Engineering MIT, Manipal |
Research Mentors
| S.No | Name |
| 1. | Dr. J. Prakash Professor, Instrumentation Engineering Madras Institute of Technology Anna University, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India |
| 2. | Dr. Srinivas Palanki Professor & Chairperson Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-6070West Virginia University, USA. |
Fully automated CSTR pilot plant with external hot oil circulation unit for research.
Prof. Ravindra D Gudi, Deputy Director of IIT Bombay looked at the works of CSTR and gave further directions to works on.
Jetson Orin board interface with batch reactor pilot plant.
Research Activity:
PhD, PG and UG students are working in the area of Machine Learning for nonlinear model identification and nonlinear controller design for the chemical processes. Students are validating the designed, simulated control algorithms on various pilot plants available in “Machine Learning for Advanced Process Control lab – RL12” using MATLAB/Python platform. The pilot plant sensors and actuator signals are interfaced to higher end PC using ADC2007, Jetson Orin 8GB board.
At present, Machine Learning for Advanced Process Control lab got upgraded to cloud computations via Digital Twin using Azure cloud platform. All the pilot plants in the research lab have been connected to the cloud for global access, one can validate their Machine Learning algorithms using the online sensor and actuator signals. This platform enables the VIRTUAL LAB facility for research activities.
Students are getting hands-on experience in handling Simulin, m-file, Python codes to implement the control algorithms via Jetson Orin Nano board.
Students who are self-motivated/ interested to engage with technical activities in control and automation can approach. Presently I am looking for students to get involved in Machine Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Neural network based nonlinear model identification and control projects with real time applications.
Prerequisites
- Motivated towards technical works / hardware implementation.
- Coding skills (Basic/Medium)
- Mathematical concepts.
Eligibility
- B.Tech / M.Tech students ICE/EIE/ECE/EEE/ CSE/IT can work on identification and control algorithm developments in Python/MATLAB® simulation environment / Implementation.
- B.Tech/ M.Tech in Chemical/Bio-Tech can also work with the Machine Learning concepts with pilot plant chemical process/batch reactor.
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