https://ece.ncsu.edu/seminar/learning-layering-and-adaptation-for-safety-critical-control-of-autonomous-systems/

The autonomy stacks of modern engineering systems—from self-driving vehicles and unmanned aerial drones to humanoid robots—typically consist of complex layers of control, planning, and perception feedback loops. These architectures enable autonomous behaviors but create new challenges for certifying safety, particularly when they use learning-enabled components. This talk presents work on safety-critical layered control architectures (LCAs), covering theoretical foundations, practical applications, adaptive and learning-based approaches, and ongoing research at the intersection of learning, perception, and control.

Join Zoom Webinar: https://ncsu.zoom.us/j/98389016656

Speaker: Max Cohen
Assistant Professor, NC State University

Max Cohen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NC State, where he directs the Autonomy, Controls, and Robotics Engineering (ACRE) Lab. He earned his B.S. from the University of Florida in 2018, his M.S. from Boston University in 2022, and his Ph.D. from Boston University in 2023. Prior to joining NC State, he served as a postdoctoral scholar at Caltech from 2023 to 2025. His awards include an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, an Outstanding Dissertation award from Boston University, and the best paper award at the 2025 Conference on Learning for Dynamics and Control. His research interests lie at the intersection of control theory, robotics, and autonomous systems.