MERL - Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories

Scott A. Bortoff

Scott A. Bortoff
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  • Biography

    Scott's research interests are in applications of nonlinear and optimal control theory to motion control, path planning and process control problems. Before joining MERL in 2009, Scott led the Controls Group at the United Technology Research Center and previously was an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto.

  • Recent News & Events


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  • MERL Publications

    •  de Castro, M., Wang, Y., Vanfretti, L., Wang, H., Liu, D., Bortoff, S.A., Takegami, T., "Modeling, Simulation and Control of Turboelectric Propulsion Systems for More Electric Aircrafts using Modelica", AIAA Aviation Forum, DOI: 10.2514/​6.2022-3873, June 2022, pp. 3873.
      BibTeX TR2022-087 PDF
      • @inproceedings{deCastro2022jun,
      • author = {de Castro, Marcelo and Wang, Yebin and Vanfretti, Luigi and Wang, Hongyu and Liu, Dehong and Bortoff, Scott A. and Takegami, Tomoki},
      • title = {Modeling, Simulation and Control of Turboelectric Propulsion Systems for More Electric Aircrafts using Modelica},
      • booktitle = {AIAA Aviation Forum},
      • year = 2022,
      • pages = 3873,
      • month = jun,
      • doi = {10.2514/6.2022-3873},
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2022-087}
      • }
    •  Bortoff, S.A., Schwerdtner, P., Danielson, C., Di Cairano, S., Burns, D.J., "H-Infinity Loop-Shaped Model Predictive Control with HVAC Application", IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology, DOI: 10.1109/​TCST.2022.3141937, Vol. 30, No. 5, pp. 2188-2203, March 2022.
      BibTeX TR2022-028 PDF
      • @article{Bortoff2022mar,
      • author = {Bortoff, Scott A. and Schwerdtner, Paul and Danielson, Claus and Di Cairano, Stefano and Burns, Daniel J.},
      • title = {H-Infinity Loop-Shaped Model Predictive Control with HVAC Application},
      • journal = {IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology},
      • year = 2022,
      • volume = 30,
      • number = 5,
      • pages = {2188--2203},
      • month = mar,
      • doi = {10.1109/TCST.2022.3141937},
      • issn = {1063-6536},
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2022-028}
      • }
    •  Chakrabarty, A., Danielson, C., Bortoff, S.A., Laughman, C.R., "Accelerating self-optimization control of refrigerant cycles with Bayesian optimization and adaptive moment estimation", Applied Thermal Engineering, DOI: 10.1016/​j.applthermaleng.2021.117335, Vol. 197, pp. 117335, February 2022.
      BibTeX TR2022-010 PDF
      • @article{Chakrabarty2022feb,
      • author = {Chakrabarty, Ankush and Danielson, Claus and Bortoff, Scott A. and Laughman, Christopher R.},
      • title = {Accelerating self-optimization control of refrigerant cycles with Bayesian optimization and adaptive moment estimation},
      • journal = {Applied Thermal Engineering},
      • year = 2022,
      • volume = 197,
      • pages = 117335,
      • month = feb,
      • doi = {10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2021.117335},
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2022-010}
      • }
    •  Chakrabarty, A., Bortoff, S.A., Laughman, C.R., "Simulation Failure Robust Bayesian Optimization for Estimating Black-Box Model Parameters", IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (SMC), DOI: 10.1109/​SMC52423.2021.9658893, October 2021.
      BibTeX TR2021-128 PDF Video
      • @inproceedings{Chakrabarty2021oct2,
      • author = {Chakrabarty, Ankush and Bortoff, Scott A. and Laughman, Christopher R.},
      • title = {Simulation Failure Robust Bayesian Optimization for Estimating Black-Box Model Parameters},
      • booktitle = {IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (SMC)},
      • year = 2021,
      • month = oct,
      • doi = {10.1109/SMC52423.2021.9658893},
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2021-128}
      • }
    •  Bortoff, S.A., Okasha, A., "Modelica-Based Control of A Delta Robot", ASME Dynamic Systems and Control Conference, DOI: doi.org/​10.1115/​DSCC2020-3158, December 2020.
      BibTeX TR2020-154 PDF
      • @inproceedings{Bortoff2020dec,
      • author = {Bortoff, Scott A. and Okasha, Ahmed},
      • title = {Modelica-Based Control of A Delta Robot},
      • booktitle = {ASME Dynamic Systems and Control Conference},
      • year = 2020,
      • month = dec,
      • doi = {doi.org/10.1115/DSCC2020-3158},
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2020-154}
      • }
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  • Software Downloads

  • Videos

  • MERL Issued Patents

    • Title: "Extremum Seeking Control with Stochastic Gradient Estimation"
      Inventors: Chakrabarty, Ankush; Danielson, Claus; Bortoff, Scott A.; Laughman, Christopher
      Patent No.: 11,467,544
      Issue Date: Oct 11, 2022
    • Title: "System and Method for Power Optimizing Control of Multi-Zone Heat Pumps"
      Inventors: Bortoff, Scott A.; Burns, Dan J; Laughman, Christopher; Qiao, Hongtao
      Patent No.: 10,895,412
      Issue Date: Jan 19, 2021
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling Refrigerant in Vapor Compression System"
      Inventors: Laughman, Christopher; Qiao, Hongtao; Burns, Dan J; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 10,830,515
      Issue Date: Nov 10, 2020
    • Title: "System and Method for Thermal Comfort Control"
      Inventors: Laughman, Christopher; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 10,767,887
      Issue Date: Sep 8, 2020
    • Title: "Motion Controller for Real-Time Continuous Curvature Path Planning"
      Inventors: Bortoff, Scott A.; Wang, Yebin; Dai, Jin
      Patent No.: 10,591,915
      Issue Date: Mar 17, 2020
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling Vapor Compression Systems"
      Inventors: Burns, Dan J; Laughman, Christopher; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 10,495,364
      Issue Date: Dec 3, 2019
    • Title: "Control of Redundant Laser Processing Machines"
      Inventors: Di Cairano, Stefano; Haghighat, Sohrab; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 10,307,863
      Issue Date: Jun 4, 2019
    • Title: "Coordinated Operation of Multiple Space-Conditioning Systems"
      Inventors: Laughman, Christopher; Qiao, Hongtao; Burns, Dan J; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 10,234,158
      Issue Date: Mar 19, 2019
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling Multi-Zone Vapor Compression Systems"
      Inventors: Burns, Dan J; Di Cairano, Stefano; Bortoff, Scott A.; Laughman, Christopher
      Patent No.: 10,174,957
      Issue Date: Jan 8, 2019
    • Title: "Method and System for Controlling Angular Speeds of Motors in Speed Sensorless Induction Motors"
      Inventors: Wang, Yebin; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,985,563
      Issue Date: May 29, 2018
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling Vapor Compression Systems"
      Inventors: Burns, Dan J; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,915,456
      Issue Date: Mar 13, 2018
    • Title: "Control of Processing Machines with Redundant Actuators"
      Inventors: Di Cairano, Stefano; Goldsmith, Abraham M.; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,744,620
      Issue Date: Aug 29, 2017
    • Title: "System and Method for Calibrating Laser Processing Machines"
      Inventors: Shilpiekandula, Vijay; Bortoff, Scott A.; Goldsmith, Abraham M.
      Patent No.: 9,718,146
      Issue Date: Aug 1, 2017
    • Title: "Method and System for Computing Reference Signals for Machines with Redundant Positioning"
      Inventors: Haghighat, Sohrab; Di Cairano, Stefano; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,696,709
      Issue Date: Jul 4, 2017
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling of Vapor Compression System"
      Inventors: Burns, Dan J; Jain, Neera; Laughman, Christopher; Di Cairano, Stefano; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,625,196
      Issue Date: Apr 18, 2017
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling Vapor Compression Systems"
      Inventors: Burns, Dan J; Laughman, Christopher; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,534,820
      Issue Date: Jan 3, 2017
    • Title: "Motion-Control System for Performing Different Tasks"
      Inventors: Wang, Yebin; Jiang, Yu; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,529,341
      Issue Date: Dec 27, 2016
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling Temperature and Humidity in Multiple Spaces using Liquid Desiccant"
      Inventors: Laughman, Christopher; Burns, Dan J; Bortoff, Scott A.; Waters, Richard C.
      Patent No.: 9,518,765
      Issue Date: Dec 13, 2016
    • Title: "Optimization of System Control Based on Solving Multi-Point Boundary Value Problems"
      Inventors: Wang, Yebin; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,378,469
      Issue Date: Jun 28, 2016
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling Redundant Actuators of a Machine"
      Inventors: Shilpiekandula, Vijay; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,261,872
      Issue Date: Feb 16, 2016
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling Semi-Active Actuators Arranged to Minimize Vibration in Elevator Systems"
      Inventors: Wang, Yebin; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,242,837
      Issue Date: Jan 26, 2016
    • Title: "Elevator Rope Sway Estimation"
      Inventors: Benosman, Mouhacine; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,096,411
      Issue Date: Aug 4, 2015
    • Title: "Method for Determining Trajectory of Multi-Motor Control System Avoiding Obstacle"
      Inventors: Wang, Yebin; Yu, Han; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,076,337
      Issue Date: Jul 7, 2015
    • Title: "Elevator Rope Sway Estimation"
      Inventors: Benosman, Mouhacine; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,045,313
      Issue Date: Jun 2, 2015
    • Title: "Cabling Configuration for Railless Elevators"
      Inventors: Shilpiekandula, Vijay; Yerazunis, William S.; Barnwell, III, John C.; Bortoff, Scott A.; Katz, Joseph
      Patent No.: 8,978,831
      Issue Date: Mar 17, 2015
    • Title: "Laser Cutting Machine"
      Inventors: Yerazunis, William S.; Barnwell, III, John C.; Bortoff, Scott A.; Shilpiekandula, Vijay; Goldsmith, Abraham M.
      Patent No.: 8,921,734
      Issue Date: Dec 30, 2014
    • Title: "Controller for Reducing Vibrations in Mechanical Systems"
      Inventors: Benosman, Mouhacine; Shilpiekandula, Vijay; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 8,855,826
      Issue Date: Oct 7, 2014
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling Semi-Active Actuators Arranged to Minimize Vibration in Elevator Systems"
      Inventors: Wang, Yebin; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 8,849,465
      Issue Date: Sep 30, 2014
    • Title: "An Energy Efficient Motion Control System"
      Inventors: Wang, Yebin; Koichiro, Ueda; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 8,816,627
      Issue Date: Aug 26, 2014
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling Semi-Active Actuators"
      Inventors: Wang, Yebin; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 8,768,522
      Issue Date: Jul 1, 2014
    • Title: "Method for Generating Trajectories for Motor Controlled Actuators"
      Inventors: Wang, Yebin; Bortoff, Scott A.; Zhao, Yiming
      Patent No.: 8,700,190
      Issue Date: Apr 15, 2014
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling Operations of Vapor Compression"
      Inventors: Bortoff, Scott A.; Burns, Dan J; Laughman, Christopher
      Patent No.: 8,694,131
      Issue Date: Apr 8, 2014
    • Title: "Base Vibration Attenuation and Load Tracking in Mechanical System"
      Inventors: Shilpiekandula, Vijay; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 8,513,906
      Issue Date: Aug 20, 2013
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