Student Projects
Modeling and Control of an Ex-Vivo Perfusion Machine
The reintegration of individuals who have experienced accidents is at the heart of our efforts. A severe car accident or a workplace accident, can profoundly change a person's life. Such tragic events often result in serious injuries, such as severed limbs, and are classified as "polytrauma." At our lab, we are working to mitigate the consequences of such severe accidents. Using an innovative perfusion machine, we try to keep severed limbs alive outside the body for up to four days. This time window provides the foundation for successfully retransplanting the limb to a stabilized polytrauma patient.
Keywords
Mathematical modeling; Control; Biomedical; Optimization; Fluiddynamics
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Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
Description
During your project, you will develop a mathematical model of the perfusion machine, which will be used to test new control algorithms in simulation. In a first phase, you will focus on the fluid dynamic component of the machine, modeling flows and pressures along the pipes. To gather the necessary data for the parameter identification, you will run your own experiments on the perfusion machine testbench and get the opportunity to collaborate with an entire team of dedicated and experienced researchers from USZ and the IDSC group. The second phase of the project is the development of sophisticated model-based controllers. Specifically, your goal is to develop a MIMO controller for the pressure and flow at the organ’s connections.
Goal
Derive a mathematical model and a corresponding MIMO controller for the perfusion machine
Contact Details
Marc-Philippe Neumann, mneumann@idsc.mavt.ethz.ch Dr. David Machacek, davidm@ethz.ch
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Published since: 2025-03-28 , Earliest start: 2025-04-01 , Latest end: 2025-12-23
Applications limited to ETH Zurich
Organization Research Onder
Hosts Neumann Marc-Philippe
Topics Engineering and Technology
Infrastructure Optimization for Bus Fleet Electrification
Development of an open-source Python toolbox for optimizing electric bus fleet electrification in Switzerland, focusing on charging infrastructure, battery sizing, and strategy. The next phase aims to enhance compatibility, expand charging options, integrate new energy sources, and improve computational efficiency in collaboration with PostAuto.
Keywords
Electric bus, fleet electrification, charging infrastructure, Dynamic programming
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Master Thesis
Description
Several Swiss cities have committed to electrifying their entire bus fleets over the next few decades. In this process, many important decisions need to be made that can have a significant impact on the efficiency and cost of electrification, such as the choice of charging infrastructure or the size and type of batteries. In the ongoing Swiss EBus Plus project, we have therefore developed and published a Python-based open source toolbox for the simultaneous optimization of charging station placement, battery size, and charging strategy. 1 The next phase of this research aims to enhance the toolbox for broader applications. A close collaboration with PostAuto is particularly valuable, given their diverse operational profiles in urban, rural, and alpine regions. In a first step, the compatibility with the available data must be ensured and tested across all Swiss regions. To allow broad application of the toolbox, additional charging strategies (induction, trolley, etc.) and energy sources (battery-assisted solar, fuel cells, etc.) will have to be implemented. Furthermore, the toolbox will be extended to incorporate further constraints, including regional limitations identified through accompanying research at other institutions. Lastly, computational efficiency needs to be improved to speed up the optimization process. The project spans 12 months, divided into a 6-month master’s thesis followed by a 6-month full-time scientific assistantship. To maintain continuity, both parts are ideally completed by the same person.
Goal
- Literature Review & Data Compatibility – Review existing research on electric bus fleet optimization and ensure compatibility of the toolbox with available Swiss regional data.
- Expansion of Charging Strategies & Energy Sources – Implement additional charging methods (e.g., induction, trolley) and integrate alternative energy sources (e.g., battery-assisted solar, fuel cells).
- Optimization & Constraint Integration – Extend the toolbox to incorporate regional constraints and operational limitations identified through external research collaborations.
- Computational Efficiency Improvement – Enhance the toolbox’s performance to accelerate optimization processes and enable real-time feasibility analysis.
- Documentation & Validation of Results – Systematically document enhancements, validate results through case studies, and ensure usability for future applications.
Contact Details
Mohammad Moradi, ML H 42.1, moradim@ethz.ch
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Published since: 2025-02-19
Organization Research Onder
Hosts Moradi Mohammad
Topics Engineering and Technology
AI-Supported Energy Management Optimization for Hybrid Ships
This thesis explores advanced energy management for hybrid ships using Dynamic Programming (DP) and Model Predictive Control (MPC). It integrates Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) models aiming to improve load forecasting, energy demand prediction, and operational optimization, with a focus on real-world constraints and maritime applications.
Keywords
Machine learning, Hybrid Ships, Hybrid vessels, Energy Management Systems, Dynamic Programming (DP), Model Predictive Control (MPC), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM)
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Master Thesis
Description
This master thesis focuses on advancing energy management systems for hybrid ships through the application of Dynamic Programming (DP) and Model Predictive Control (MPC). A key aspect of this research involves integrating Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) models into DP and MPC frameworks while providing enhanced predictive capabilities for system load forecasting, energy demand estimation, and operational decision-making. As part of an interdisciplinary team, you will contribute to the development of an optimization toolbox tailored to maritime energy management.
Goal
The following tasks must be tackled during the study: 1. Literature review on the state-of-the-art in maritime energy management. 2. Development of DP- and MPC-based Algorithms for optimizing hybrid ship energy usage. 3. Cost function definition for ship energy consumption, considering the real-world constraint. 4. Integration of LSTM models within DP and MPC frameworks for enhanced prediction and control. 5. Documentation of the results.
Contact Details
Markus Wenig, ML H 42.1, E-Mail: mwenig@ethz.ch Mohammad Moradi, ML H 42.1, E-Mail: moradim@ethz.ch
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Published since: 2025-01-20 , Earliest start: 2025-01-20
Organization Research Onder
Hosts Moradi Mohammad
Topics Engineering and Technology