Research

Strategic Areas

Research interests are aligned with the team’s core competencies and automation curricula in industrial systems automation, electric powertrain, control engineering, model-based control, optimal control, electrification, electrical machines/drives, renewable energy applications, and other relevant areas. We follow the strategic goals of the interdisciplinary approach, focus on innovation and impact, and prioritize sustainability and ethics.

Bearingless Drives and Motors

Linear and rotating magnetic levitation bearingless motors, extend the magnetic bearing concept and do not require a mechanical bearing or lubrication while combining torque/thrust with magnetic suspension using the same actuator surfaces. The rotating shafts and linear movers are supported and guided by electromagnetic forces. In recent years, high-speed and high-efficiency motor technology has been progressing with developments in solid-state electronics, manufacturing, materials, and control methods. For wider use of bearingless technology in sustainable energy solutions, such as industrial heat pumps, compressors, turbines, flywheels, and oil-free contactless motion, such as factory automation transporters, elevators, and others, technological gaps and high-power scaling have to be solved. Bearingless motors and magnetic bearings have advantages such as no friction, no wear, lower maintenance costs, precise positioning, detection of forces, and built-in diagnostics, etc., they are attractive for applications requiring continuous reliable operation in sterile or oil-free environments.

For more information, contact: Rafal Jastrzebski, email: rafal.jastrzebski@utu.fi

Swarms of Unmanned Vehicles

Swarms of unmanned vehicles are sets of robots that work together to achieve a specific goal. They include vehicles moving on the ground, UGVs, in the air, UAVs, on the sea surface, USVs, or underwater, UUVs. The objective of this research is to design a distributed formation control system for swarms of unmanned vehicles which addresses the challenges of scalability, collision avoidance, failure recovery, energy efficiency, and control performance.

For more information, contact: Anam Tahir, email: anam.tahir@utu.fi

Projects

Virtual Sea Trial (2024 – 2026)

The Virtual Sea Trial (VST) research project, funded by Business Finland, consists of multiple companies and research organizations, develops an integrated and distributed virtual testing environment for ships. At the University of Turku, this project is led by University Lecturer Jari Böling from the Automation unit of the Mechanical and Materials Engineering department. The focus area for automation engineering is to develop and study the testing of the interaction and different automation systems on board ships. The specifications and the interfaces between the different automation systems are in a central role, and the end goal is to develop a system where different parts can be added in steps, and tested for functionality of the whole system.

For more information, contact: Jari Böling, email: jari.boling@utu.fi