Michael W. Fisher: Distributed Optimal Control Synthesis and Reducing Nonlinear Disturbance Vulnerability for Complex Systems

Complex systems consist of a collection of components with local dynamics and control that are coupled by physical or cyber networks. Examples include the electrical power grid, mobile robots, and autonomous vehicles. Such systems provide essential services to society but are notoriously challenging to analyze or control due to their large scale and complexity. The first part of the talk focuses on distributed optimal control synthesis in complex systems. Novel distributed optimization methods are developed to solve the design problem while preserving model privacy. The method is applied for control design of distributed energy resources. The second part of the talk focuses on reducing vulnerability to nonlinear disturbances in complex systems. Complex systems naturally experience disturbances that disrupt normal operation and can lead to instability. For instance, a sudden gust of wind can cause a quadcopter to lose stability in flight. The resulting methods are applied to improve robustness of a quadcopter to unexpected gusts of wind during flight.

Michael W. Fisher is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo, Canada. He was a postdoctoral researcher with the Automatic Control and Power System Laboratories at ETH Zurich from 2020-2022. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering: Systems at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 2020, and a M.Sc. in Mathematics from the same institution in 2017. He received his B.A. in Mathematics and Physics from Swarthmore College in 2014. His research interests are in dynamics, control, and optimization of complex systems. Dr. Fisher was a finalist for the 2017 Conference on Decision and Control (CDC) Best Student Paper Award and a recipient of the 2019 CDC Outstanding Student Paper Award.

The Ballard Seminars in Emerging Technology are designed to enrich the intellectual life of the ECE department. The series brings leading early-career scholars to campus to share cutting-edge research and engage with students, faculty, and alumni. These interactions cultivate meaningful professional relationships, spark interdisciplinary collaboration, and introduce new ideas that influence both research and curriculum.

The series was established in 2026 through a gift from DeAnna Ballard (BSEE '89) and Gregg Steinhauser.