Bernard Mettler
Assistant Professor

Professor Mettler main interests are in the area of control and guidance for autonomous vehicles. An important open problem for unmanned aerial vehicles is to navigate autonomously within complex environments or perform tasks that require complex dynamic behaviours. In contrast to many mobile robotic, aerial vehicles can exhibit a broad range of dynamic behaviours but are also highly susceptible to atmospheric conditions; this characteristic is accentuated when the vehicle size decreases. Successful autonomous systems will require a tight integration between planning and control, i.e., being able to better account for the vehicle’s dynamics while planning trajectories and better account for the task or mission objectives during execution. Professor Mettler’s research focuses on mathematical modelling, full envelope control systems, and computationally efficient trajectory planning algorithms, with an emphasis on systems integration.

Degrees

Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 2001.
Diploma, Mechanical Engineering, ETH, Zurich, Switzerland, 1996.

Experience

2006 - Present: Assistant Professor, Aerospace Engineering & Mechanics and Control Science & Dynamical Systems Center, University of Minnesota
2004 - 2005: Research Scientist, Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2001 - 2004: Postdoctoral Associate, Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1997 - 2001: Research Assistant, Carnegie Mellon University

Five Recent Publications

C. Dever, B. Mettler, E. Feron, J. Popovic, and M. McConley, 2006, Trajectory Interpolation for Parameterized Maneuvering and Flexible Motion Planning of Autonomous Vehicles, AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics, 29(2), (Journal Article) More Details, Request PDF
T. Schouwenaars, B. Mettler, E. Feron and J. How, 2004, Hybrid Model for Trajectory Planning of Agile Autonomous Aerial Vehicles, Journal of Aerospace Computing, Information, and Communication, Special Issue on Intelligent Systems, Vol. 1, December, (Journal Article) More Details, Request PDF
B. Mettler, C. Dever and Eric Feron, 2004, Scaling and Dynamic Characteristics of Miniature Rotorcraft, AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics, 27(3), (Journal Article) More Details, Request PDF
V. Gavrilets, B. Mettler and E. Feron, 2004, Human-Inspired Control Logic for Automated Maneuvering of Miniature Helicopter, AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics, 27(5), (Journal Article) More Details, Request PDF
B. Mettler, M. B. Tischler and T. Kanade, 2002, System Identification Modeling of a Small-Scale Unmanned Helicopter, Journal of the American Helicopter Society, 47(1), Jan., (Journal Article) More Details, Request PDF

See more publications

Honors and Fellowships

Best conference paper, AIAA Digital Avionics System Conference 2001: Background
Carnegie Mellon University Award for contributions to Autonomous Helicopter Project, 1997: Background
AUVSI International Aerial Robotics Competition, First Prize winner, Orlando, Florida, 1997: Background

Scientific and Professional Societies

Associate member, IEEE, Control Systems and Robotics and Automation Society
Associate member, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
Member, American Helicopter Society (AHS)

Subjects and Courses Taught

Undergraduate: AEM 2301 -- Mechanics of Flight; AEM 4311 -- Automatic Control Systems; AEM 4371 -- Helicopter Aerodynamics; AEM 4495 -- Problems in Dynamics and Control
Graduate: AEM 5431 -- Trajectory Optimization; AEM 8400 -- Research Seminar in Dynamics and Controls; AEM 8495 -- Selected Topics in Dynamical Systems and Controls

Curriculum Vitae

Brief Biographical Sketch

Last Modified: 2008-09-19 at 14:09:35 -- this is in International Standard Date and Time Notation

Bernard Mettler Assistant Professor