Course description:

Hybrid systems are dynamical systems that have continuous dynamics, modeled by differential equations, as well as discrete dynamics, modeled by automata. These systems are used as a modeling and analysis framework in many fields such as robotics, embedded systems, mechatronic, real time software, air traffic control, systems biology, and process control since they naturally capture the phenomena arising when digital (discrete) computation is combined with the physical (continuous) world.

This course will discuss the modeling of hybrid systems, the analysis and simulation of their behavior, different control methodologies as well as verification techniques. To complement the theoretical aspect, several state of the art tools will be introduced. New and emerging topics in hybrid systems research will be presented as well.

As the field of hybrid systems is a truly interdisciplinary one, drawing researchers from dynamical systems, control theory, computer aided verification, automata theory and other fields, one of the goals of this course is to teach students the language that will allow them to bridge the gap between these traditionally disjoint disciplines.