Winter School 2025...

The lecturers

The confirmed lecturers of the Winter School are:

Prof Susan TROILIER-McKINSTRY, Winter School Invited lecturer
Professor, Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA USA

More info: link

Title: "Introduction to Piezoelectric, Pyroelectric, and Ferroelectric Materials"
Type: "Online seminar"

Abstract: This tutorial will describe the links between crystal structure, symmetry the pyroelectric, piezoelectric, and ferroelectric responses of representative materials. The definitions of each of these properties will be provided, along with a mechanistic understanding of what the property is displaced. The hierarchy in symmetry from piezoelectric to pyroelectric to ferroelectric materials will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on the perovskite, wurtzite, fluorite, LiNbO3, and PVDF structures.

Dr Angelica TORRES, Winter School Invited lecturer
Associate Professor, L2EP - Polytech de Lille, University of Lille
Lille, FRANCE

More info: link

Title: "Piezoelectric Control for Surface Haptics"

Abstract: Haptic technologies are systems that enable users to physically interact with virtual objects through the sense of touch. Beyond enhancing immersion in virtual contexts, these technologies contribute to sustainability by reducing the need for physical prototypes, enabling safe and resource-efficient training, and supporting remote work and teleoperation. By lowering material waste, reducing energy consumption, and improving access to education and healthcare, haptic devices address key environmental challenges while promoting inclusiveness, health, and safety. The device under study is a 'Surface haptic device' that creates texture illusions through ultrasonic vibrations. The illusions are created because ultrasonic vibration reduces the surface friction. Thus, a sensation of 'softness' increases with the vibration amplitude. These vibrations are controlled in closed loop, using vector control on piezoelectric actuators.

This lecture will address the main applications of the technology, its working principles, and basics of how haptic devices are prototyped in-house [1]. Finally, we will discover how Energetic Macroscopic Representation (EMR) [2] can be used to model, simulate and control the vibration amplitude of the device in real-time [3] in small microcontrollers for portable applications. A simulation session is proposed, so the dynamic model can be implemented and simulated using EMR/ Matlab-Simulink.

References
[1] Diana Angelica Torres, Betty Lemaire-Semail, Christophe Giraud-Audine, Frederic Giraud, Michel Amberg, Design and control of an ultrasonic surface haptic device for longitudinal and transverse mode comparison, Sensors and Actuators A: Physical,Volume 331, 2021, 113019, ISSN 0924-4247, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2021.113019
[2] A. Bouscayrol, J. Hautier, and B. Lemaire-Semail, 'Graphic Formalisms for the Control of Multi-Physical Energetic Systems: COG and EMR', in Systemic Design Methodologies for Electrical Energy Systems, 1st ed., X. Roboam, Ed., Wiley, 2012, pp. 89-124. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118569863.ch3
[3] F. Giraud and C. Giraud-Audine, Piezoelectric actuators: vector control method, 1st edition. Cambridge, CA: Elsevier, 2019.

Description file.

Prof Khanh T-P. NGUYEN, Winter School Invited lecturer
Full Professor, University of Technology of Tarbes (UTTOP)
65000 Tarbes, FRANCE

Homepage: website

Title: "From Signals to Decisions: Artificial Intelligence Methods for Smart Monitoring with Piezoelectric Sensors"

Abstract: This course is first to introduce to smart monitorings and related AI specifically when using piezoelectric sensors. After a lecture of 2h, a tutorial will be given. The tutorial which is on signal-based smart monitoring will be illustrated using Python on Google Colab, allowing participants to run the provided code directly in their browser without installing any local software.

Dr Jie LING, Winter School Invited lecturer
Professor, Nanjing University of Astronautics and Aeronautics
Nanjing, CHINA

More info: link

Title: "Design and Control of Piezoelectric Actuators in Aerospace Applications"
Type: "Online seminar"

Abstract: This lecture presents cutting-edge research on the design and control of piezoelectric actuators for aerospace systems, addressing the growing demand for high-performance, reliable, and compact actuation solutions in modern aviation and space applications. The lecture begins with an introduction to the unique requirements of aerospace systems, highlighting the limitations of conventional electrohydraulic servo valves and the advantages of piezoelectric alternatives-such as high bandwidth, precision, and electromagnetic compatibility. Key piezoelectric actuator types, including stack, bimorph, and tube actuators, are introduced, along with critical control challenges like hysteresis, creep, vibration, and thermal effects. Throughout the lecture, experimental results and real-world applications will be shared, demonstrating the practical impact of these technologies in next-generation aerospace systems. The talk will conclude with an overview of ongoing work and future directions in smart actuation systems. This presentation is ideal for students and researchers interested in mechatronics, smart materials, control systems, and aerospace engineering.

Dr Sofiane KHADRAOUI,Winter School Invited lecturer
Professor, University of Sharjah
Sharjah, UAE

More info: link

Title: "Control Design for High-Precision Piezoelectric Actuation: A Robust ADRC Approach"
Type: "Online seminar"

Abstract: This lecture presents a robust control design framework for piezoelectric actuators used in high-precision manipulation applications. The talk first highlights the attractive and remarkable features of piezoelectric actuators, then discusses the major challenges associated with their practical integration and operation, including strong nonlinearities such as hysteresis and creep, poorly damped dynamics, and high sensitivity to parameter variations and environmental conditions. To address these issues, the lecture introduces an advanced control strategy capable of mitigating these adverse characteristics of piezoelectric actuators while ensuring stability and accuracy under uncertainty, with particular emphasis on disturbance estimation and compensation, as well as robust feedback design. Subsequently, results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework in achieving high-precision and reliable real-time performance. The lecture concludes with remarks on future research directions.

Dr Gerardo FLORES,Winter School Invited lecturer
Professor, TEXAS A&M International University
Laredo, TX USA

More info: link

Title: "Hysteresis-Based Modeling and Control of Piezoelectric Actuators for Precision Manipulation"
Type: "Online seminar"

Abstract: Piezoelectric actuators are widely used in precision manipulation due to their high resolution and bandwidth; however, their performance is strongly affected by intrinsic hysteresis nonlinearities, which may degrade accuracy or even compromise closed-loop stability if not properly addressed. This talk presents a unified modeling and control framework for piezoelectric actuators based on explicit hysteresis representations. Classical and generalized Bouc-Wen models, as well as the Dahl hysteresis model, are introduced to capture symmetric and asymmetric hysteresis behaviors. Based on these models, several output-feedback control strategies are discussed, relying only on position or force measurements and supported by nonlinear observers for estimating hysteresis states and external disturbances. The presentation covers position tracking, finite-time stabilization, model predictive control, and robust force control during interaction with deformable objects. The proposed approaches demonstrate how hysteresis-aware modeling enables formal stability guarantees and robust performance in the presence of uncertainties and interaction forces, providing a systematic modeling-control perspective for piezoelectric robotic manipulation.

Prof Micky RAKOTONDRABE,Winter School main lecturer
Full Professor, University of Technology of Tarbes (UTTOP)
65000 Tarbes, FRANCE

Email: mrakoton 'at' uttop 'dot' fr
Homepage: m.rakoton.net

Micky Rakotondrabe (main lecturer) will provide the lectures on "Piezoelectric mechatronics" from fundamental principle of piezoelectricity to their exploitation for sensing, actuation and energy harvesting; as well as introduction to their control.