- Date & Time: Tuesday, December 7, 2021; 1:00 PM EST
Speaker: Prof. Eric Severson, University of Wisconsin-Madison
MERL Host: Bingnan Wang
Research Area: Electric Systems
Abstract 
Electric motors pump our water, heat and cool our homes and offices, drive critical medical and surgical equipment, and, increasingly, operate our transportation systems. Approximately 99% of the world’s electric energy is produced by a rotating generator and 45% of that energy is consumed by an electric motor. The efficiency of this technology is vital in enabling our energy sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint. The reliability and lifetime of this technology have severe, and sometimes life-altering, consequences. Today’s motor technology largely relies upon mechanical bearings to support the motor’s shaft. These bearings are the first components to fail, create frictional losses, and rely on lubricants that create contamination challenges and require periodic maintenance. In short, bearings are the Achilles' heel of modern electric motors.
This seminar will explore the use of actively controlled magnetic forces to levitate the motor shaft, eliminating mechanical bearings and the problems associated with them. The working principles of traditional magnetic levitation technology (active magnetic bearings) will be reviewed and used to explain why this technology has not been successfully applied to the most high-impact motor applications. Research into “bearingless” motors offers a new levitation approach by manipulating the inherent magnetic force capability of all electric motors. While traditional motors are carefully designed to prevent shaft forces, the bearingless motor concept controls these forces to make the motor simultaneously function as an active magnetic bearing. The seminar will showcase the potential of bearingless technology to revolutionize motor systems of critical importance for energy and sustainability—from industrial compressors and blowers, such as those found in HVAC systems and wastewater aeration equipment, to power grid flywheel energy storage devices and electric turbochargers in fuel-efficient vehicles.
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- Date & Time: Thursday, December 9, 2021; 1:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Location: Virtual Event
Speaker: Prof. Melanie Zeilinger, ETH
Research Areas: Applied Physics, Artificial Intelligence, Communications, Computational Sensing, Computer Vision, Control, Data Analytics, Dynamical Systems, Electric Systems, Electronic and Photonic Devices, Machine Learning, Multi-Physical Modeling, Optimization, Robotics, Signal Processing, Speech & Audio, Digital Video, Human-Computer Interaction, Information Security
Brief - MERL is excited to announce the second keynote speaker for our Virtual Open House 2021:
Prof. Melanie Zeilinger from ETH .
Our virtual open house will take place on December 9, 2021, 1:00pm - 5:30pm (EST).
Join us to learn more about who we are, what we do, and discuss our internship and employment opportunities. Prof. Zeilinger's talk is scheduled for 3:15pm - 3:45pm (EST).
Registration: https://mailchi.mp/merl/merlvoh2021
Keynote Title: Control Meets Learning - On Performance, Safety and User Interaction
Abstract: With increasing sensing and communication capabilities, physical systems today are becoming one of the largest generators of data, making learning a central component of autonomous control systems. While this paradigm shift offers tremendous opportunities to address new levels of system complexity, variability and user interaction, it also raises fundamental questions of learning in a closed-loop dynamical control system. In this talk, I will present some of our recent results showing how even safety-critical systems can leverage the potential of data. I will first briefly present concepts for using learning for automatic controller design and for a new safety framework that can equip any learning-based controller with safety guarantees. The second part will then discuss how expert and user information can be utilized to optimize system performance, where I will particularly highlight an approach developed together with MERL for personalizing the motion planning in autonomous driving to the individual driving style of a passenger.
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- Date & Time: Thursday, December 9, 2021; 1:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Location: Virtual Event
Speaker: Prof. Ashok Veeraraghavan, Rice University
Research Areas: Applied Physics, Artificial Intelligence, Communications, Computational Sensing, Computer Vision, Control, Data Analytics, Dynamical Systems, Electric Systems, Electronic and Photonic Devices, Machine Learning, Multi-Physical Modeling, Optimization, Robotics, Signal Processing, Speech & Audio, Digital Video, Human-Computer Interaction, Information Security
Brief - MERL is excited to announce the first keynote speaker for our Virtual Open House 2021:
Prof. Ashok Veeraraghavan from Rice University.
Our virtual open house will take place on December 9, 2021, 1:00pm - 5:30pm (EST).
Join us to learn more about who we are, what we do, and discuss our internship and employment opportunities. Prof. Veeraraghavan's talk is scheduled for 1:15pm - 1:45pm (EST).
Registration: https://mailchi.mp/merl/merlvoh2021
Keynote Title: Computational Imaging: Beyond the limits imposed by lenses.
Abstract: The lens has long been a central element of cameras, since its early use in the mid-nineteenth century by Niepce, Talbot, and Daguerre. The role of the lens, from the Daguerrotype to modern digital cameras, is to refract light to achieve a one-to-one mapping between a point in the scene and a point on the sensor. This effect enables the sensor to compute a particular two-dimensional (2D) integral of the incident 4D light-field. We propose a radical departure from this practice and the many limitations it imposes. In the talk we focus on two inter-related research projects that attempt to go beyond lens-based imaging.
First, we discuss our lab’s recent efforts to build flat, extremely thin imaging devices by replacing the lens in a conventional camera with an amplitude mask and computational reconstruction algorithms. These lensless cameras, called FlatCams can be less than a millimeter in thickness and enable applications where size, weight, thickness or cost are the driving factors. Second, we discuss high-resolution, long-distance imaging using Fourier Ptychography, where the need for a large aperture aberration corrected lens is replaced by a camera array and associated phase retrieval algorithms resulting again in order of magnitude reductions in size, weight and cost. Finally, I will spend a few minutes discussing how the wholistic computational imaging approach can be used to create ultra-high-resolution wavefront sensors.
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- Date & Time: Thursday, December 9, 2021; 100pm-5:30pm (EST)
Location: Virtual Event
Research Areas: Applied Physics, Artificial Intelligence, Communications, Computational Sensing, Computer Vision, Control, Data Analytics, Dynamical Systems, Electric Systems, Electronic and Photonic Devices, Machine Learning, Multi-Physical Modeling, Optimization, Robotics, Signal Processing, Speech & Audio, Digital Video, Human-Computer Interaction, Information Security
Brief - Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories cordially invites you to join our Virtual Open House, on December 9, 2021, 1:00pm - 5:30pm (EST).
The event will feature keynotes, live sessions, research area booths, and time for open interactions with our researchers. Join us to learn more about who we are, what we do, and discuss our internship and employment opportunities.
Registration: https://mailchi.mp/merl/merlvoh2021
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- Date: April 23, 2021
MERL Contacts: Jianlin Guo; Philip V. Orlik
Research Areas: Communications, Electric Systems
Brief - IoT applications such as smart metering system are rapidly increasing. A broad range of low power wide area communication technologies have been developed. These systems all operate in frequencies below 1 GHz, commonly called Sub-1 GHz frequency bands, to meet various application requirements. Several communication standards and proprietary technologies already use the Sub-1 GHz bands: IEEE 802.15.4g (Wi-SUN), IEEE 802.11ah (Wi-Fi HaLow), LoRa, SigFox and RFID. Due to limited spectrum in the Sub-1 GHz frequency bands, it is likely that applications will compete for the same resources and interfere with one another. This is a particular issue in Japan where the amount of license-exempt Sub-1 GHz frequencies is more limited than in other regulatory regions. Therefore, the coexistence becomes an issue to be addressed. Accordingly, IEEE New Standards Committee and Standard Board formed IEEE 802.19.3 Task Group in 2018 to develop guidelines and best practices for the coexistence of IEEE 802.11 and IEEE 802.15.4 based systems and to guide product deployment. MERL member Jianlin Guo took a lead role as Task Group Technical Editor, and was supported by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation researchers Yukimasa Nagai, Takenori Sumi and consultant Benjamin A. Rolfe (Task Group Chair) in the development of this standard. As of April 2021 a new standard recommended practice document, IEEE Recommended Practice for Local and Metropolitan Area Networks—Part 19: Coexistence Methods for IEEE 802.11 and IEEE 802.15.4 Based Systems Operating in the Sub‐1 GHz Frequency Bands, was published. This will help guide future IoT/smart metering system deployment. The standard is widely available for download from the IEEE Standards Association at https://standards.ieee.org/standard/802_19_3-2021.html.
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- Date & Time: Wednesday, December 9, 2020; 1:00-5:00PM EST
Location: Virtual
MERL Contacts: Elizabeth Phillips; Anthony Vetro
Research Areas: Applied Physics, Artificial Intelligence, Communications, Computational Sensing, Computer Vision, Control, Data Analytics, Dynamical Systems, Electric Systems, Electronic and Photonic Devices, Machine Learning, Multi-Physical Modeling, Optimization, Robotics, Signal Processing, Speech & Audio
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- Date: June 18, 2020
Awarded to: Tong Huang, Hongbo Sun, K.J. Kim, Daniel Nikovski, Le Xie
MERL Contacts: Kyeong Jin (K.J.) Kim; Daniel N. Nikovski; Hongbo Sun
Research Areas: Data Analytics, Electric Systems, Optimization
Brief - A paper on A Holistic Framework for Parameter Coordination of Interconnected Microgrids Against Natural Disasters, written by Tong Huang, a former MERL intern from Texas A&M University, has been selected as one of the Best Conference Papers at the 2020 Power and Energy Society General Meeting (PES-GM). IEEE PES-GM is the flagship conference for the IEEE Power and Energy Society. The work was done in collaboration with Hongbo Sun, K. J. Kim, and Daniel Nikovski from MERL, and Tong's advisor, Prof. Le Xie from Texas A&M University.
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- Date & Time: Thursday, November 29, 2018; 4-6pm
Location: 201 Broadway, 8th floor, Cambridge, MA
MERL Contacts: Elizabeth Phillips; Anthony Vetro
Research Areas: Applied Physics, Artificial Intelligence, Communications, Computational Sensing, Computer Vision, Control, Data Analytics, Dynamical Systems, Electric Systems, Electronic and Photonic Devices, Machine Learning, Multi-Physical Modeling, Optimization, Robotics, Signal Processing, Speech & Audio
Brief - Snacks, demos, science: On Thursday 11/29, Mitsubishi Electric Research Labs (MERL) will host an open house for graduate+ students interested in internships, post-docs, and research scientist positions. The event will be held from 4-6pm and will feature demos & short presentations in our main areas of research including artificial intelligence, robotics, computer vision, speech processing, optimization, machine learning, data analytics, signal processing, communications, sensing, control and dynamical systems, as well as multi-physyical modeling and electronic devices. MERL is a high impact publication-oriented research lab with very extensive internship and university collaboration programs. Most internships lead to publication; many of our interns and staff have gone on to notable careers at MERL and in academia. Come mix with our researchers, see our state of the art technologies, and learn about our research opportunities. Dress code: casual, with resumes.
Pre-registration for the event is strongly encouraged:
merlopenhouse.eventbrite.com
Current internship and employment openings:
www.merl.com/internship/openings
www.merl.com/employment/employment
Information about working at MERL:
www.merl.com/employment.
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- Date & Time: Thursday, July 7, 2016; 2:00 PM
Speaker: Dr. Sonja Glavaski, Program Director, ARPA-E
MERL Host: Arvind Raghunathan
Research Area: Electric Systems
Abstract 
The evolution of the grid faces significant challenges if it is to integrate and accept more energy from renewable generation and other Distributed Energy Resources (DERs). To maintain grid's reliability and turn intermittent power sources into major contributors to the U.S. energy mix, we have to think about the grid differently and design it to be smarter and more flexible.
ARPA-E is interested in disruptive technologies that enable increased integration of DERs by real-time adaptation while maintaining grid reliability and reducing cost for customers with smart technologies. The potential impact is significant, with projected annual energy savings of more than 3 quadrillion BTU and annual CO2 emissions reductions of more than 250 million metric tons.
This talk will identify opportunities in developing next generation control technologies and grid operation paradigms that address these challenges and enable secure, stable, and reliable transmission and distribution of electrical power. Summary of newly announced ARPA-E NODES (Network Optimized Distributed Energy Systems) Program funding development of these technologies will be presented.
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- Date: May 13, 2015 - May 15, 2015
MERL Contacts: Bingnan Wang; William S. Yerazunis; Koon Hoo Teo
Research Areas: Applied Physics, Electric Systems
Brief - Description: Bingnan Wang presented a paper, 'Circularly Polarized Near Field for Resonant Wireless Power Transfer' at the recently held IEEE Wireless Power Transfer Conference in Boulder, Colorado from May 13-15, 2015.
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- Date: July 21, 2013
Where: IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting
Research Areas: Electric Systems, Signal Processing
Brief - The paper "Fast Frequency and Phase Estimation in Three Phase Power Systems" by Chen, Z., Sahinoglu, Z. and Li, H. was presented at the IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting.
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- Date: July 19, 2013
Where: International Conference on Machine Learning and Data Mining in Pattern Recognion (MLDM)
MERL Contacts: Hongbo Sun; Daniel N. Nikovski
Research Area: Data Analytics
Brief - The paper "Smart Meter Data Analysis for Power Theft Detection" by Nikovski, D., Wang, Z., Esenther, A., Sun, H., Sugiura, K., Muso, T. and Tsuru, K. was presented at the International Conference on Machine Learning and Data Mining in Pattern Recognion (MLDM).
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- Date: May 15, 2013
Where: IEEE Wireless Power Transfer Conference (WPTC)
MERL Contacts: Bingnan Wang; William S. Yerazunis; Koon Hoo Teo
Research Areas: Applied Physics, Electric Systems
Brief - The paper "Wireless Power Transfer with Artificial Magnetic Conductors" by Wu, J., Wang, B., Yerazunis, W.S. and Teo, K.H. was presented at the IEEE Wireless Power Transfer Conference (WPTC).
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- Date: March 25, 2013
Where: National Convention of the Information Processing Society of Japan (IPSJ)
MERL Contacts: Hongbo Sun; Daniel N. Nikovski
Research Area: Data Analytics
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- Date: March 17, 2013
Where: IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC)
MERL Contact: Koon Hoo Teo
Research Areas: Applied Physics, Electronic and Photonic Devices, Electric Systems
Brief - The paper "Generalized DC-link Voltage Balancing Control Method for Multilevel Inverters" by Deng, Y., Teo, K.H. and Harley, R.G. was presented at the IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC).
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- Date: March 14, 2013
Where: Proceedings of the IEEE
MERL Contacts: Bingnan Wang; William S. Yerazunis; Koon Hoo Teo
Research Areas: Applied Physics, Electric Systems
Brief - The article "Wireless Power Transfer: Metamaterials and Array of Coupled Resonators" by Wang, B., Yerazunis, W. and Teo, K.H. was published in Proceedings of the IEEE.
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- Date: October 31, 2012
Where: European Radar Conference (EuRAD)
MERL Contacts: Bingnan Wang; Koon Hoo Teo
Research Areas: Applied Physics, Electric Systems
Brief - The paper "Accurate Models for Spiral Resonators" by Ellstein, D., Wang, B. and Teo, K.H. was presented at the European Radar Conference (EuRAD).
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- Date: October 30, 2012
Where: IEEE International Conference on Power System Technology (POWERCON)
MERL Contacts: Hongbo Sun; Daniel N. Nikovski
Research Area: Data Analytics
Brief - The paper "Decoupled Three-Phase Load Flow Method for Unbalanced Distribution Systems" by Sun, H., Dubey, A., Nikovski, D., Ohno, T., Takano, T. and Kojima, Y. was presented at the IEEE International Conference on Power System Technology (POWERCON).
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- Date: October 29, 2012
Where: IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation (ISAP)
MERL Contacts: Bingnan Wang; William S. Yerazunis; Koon Hoo Teo
Research Area: Electric Systems
Brief - The paper "Power Delivery Optimization for a Mobile Power Transfer System based on Resonator Arrays" by Yerazunis, W., Wang, B. and Teo, K.H. was presented at the IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation (ISAP).
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- Date: October 14, 2012
Where: IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Europe (ISGT Europe)
MERL Contacts: Hongbo Sun; Daniel N. Nikovski
Research Area: Data Analytics
Brief - The paper "Hybrid Three-Phase Load Flow Method for Ungrounded Distribution Systems" by Sun, H., Nikovski, D., Ohno, T., Takano, T. and Kojima, Y. was presented at IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Europe (ISGT Europe).
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- Date: May 21, 2012
Where: IEEE Innovative Smart Grid Technologies - Asia (ISGT Asia)
MERL Contacts: Hongbo Sun; Daniel N. Nikovski
Research Area: Data Analytics
Brief - The paper "Two-Level State Estimation Method for Power Systems with SCADA and PMU Measurements" by Sun, H., Wang, Z. and Nikovski, D. was presented at IEEE Innovative Smart Grid Technologies - Asia (ISGT Asia).
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- Date: March 26, 2012
Where: European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP)
MERL Contacts: Bingnan Wang; Koon Hoo Teo
Research Areas: Applied Physics, Electric Systems
Brief - The paper "Analysis on Wireless Power Transfer to Moving Devices Based on Array of Resonators" by Wang, B., Ellstein, D. and Teo, K.H. was presented at the European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP).
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- Date: March 5, 2012
Where: IEEE International Workshop on Antenna Technology (iWAT)
MERL Contacts: Bingnan Wang; Koon Hoo Teo
Research Areas: Applied Physics, Electric Systems
Brief - The paper "Metamaterials for Wireless Power Transfer" by Wang, B. and Teo, K.H. was presented at the IEEE International Workshop on Antenna Technology (iWAT).
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- Date: March 1, 2012
Where: Journal of Electronic Science and Technology (JEST)
MERL Contacts: Hongbo Sun; Daniel N. Nikovski
Research Area: Data Analytics
Brief - The article "A Hybrid Decoupled Power Flow Method for Balanced Power Distribution Systems" by Sun, H., Nikovski, D., Ohno, T., Takano, T. and Kojima, Y. was published in Journal of Electronic Science and Technology (JEST).
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- Date: December 7, 2011
Where: International Semiconductor Device Research Symposium (ISDRS)
MERL Contacts: Jinyun Zhang; Koon Hoo Teo
Research Areas: Applied Physics, Electronic and Photonic Devices
Brief - The paper "Design and Simulation of Enhancement-mode N-polar GaN Single-channel and Dual-channel MIS-HEMTs" by Feng, P., Teo, K.H., Oishi, T., Nakayama, M., Duan, C. and Zhang, J. was presented at the International Semiconductor Device Research Symposium (ISDRS).
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