Abstracts:Autonomous snake robot locomotion in rough terrain depends on the robot&#x2019;s ability to rise from a horizontal position to a vertical, for its ability to climb obstacles. At first sight, lifting <italic>N</italic> body segments seems to require <italic>O</italic>(<italic>N</italic> ²)dynamic torque. However, in this article we describe a practical algorithm that requires only <italic>O</italic>(1) dynamic torque. The algorithm is applicable to a wide range of snake robot morphologies. The algorithm requires little space, and control is simple, since motion occurs only in a plane. Analysis of the algorithm reveals a strong relation between the maximum dynamic torque required and the joint pitch range. We discuss some consequences for the design of snake robots. For instance, an adjustment of the mass center of the robot&#x2019;s end segment can reduce the maximum dynamic torque. Implications are studied for some snake robot joint designs, including Dragon, an autonomous snake robot constructed for the study of unconventional locomotion.

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Abstracts:Presents information on the above named conference.

Abstracts:by KIRSTEN A. MORRIS

Abstracts:The city of Mumbai charms every visitor. In particular, its warmth and ethos have remained unchanged over the years. The crowds in the suburban trains and the average person on the street continue to exude this warmth, cutting across social boundaries. Tucked away in the northeast corner of this sprawling metropolis is a still sylvan paradise, where birds chirp, cows moo, monkeys chatter, and the leopard pays periodic visits. And this sylvan paradise hosts an institute of global repute: the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. In this institute is a group, unique in many ways, with faculty members from across the spectrum of science and engineering&#x00D1;electrical, chemical, mechanical, and aerospace engineering as well as applied mathematics&#x00D1;who have established a much-envied academic entity to be reckoned with: Systems and Control. In this issue of <italic>IEEE Control Systems</italic>, we speak with Debasish Chatterjee (Convener, Systems and Control, IIT Bombay) and a few others in their group.

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Abstracts:<italic>Tom:</italic> My dissertation lies at the intersection of nonlinear systems theory, electrical network theory, and monotone operator theory. All three of these areas have common roots in the study of passive networks in the 1920s and 1930s. However, they have grown apart, and each developed its own tools and problems. My dissertation takes a fresh look at nonlinear input/output systems theory. I generalize two of the most successful tools in linear systems theory and linear network theory&#x2014;the Nyquist diagram and the frequency response of a transfer function&#x2014;to nonlinear systems using tools from monotone operator theory.

Abstracts:<bold>Q. How would you pitch your Ph.D. dissertation in one paragraph?</bold>

Abstracts:In this issue of <italic>IEEE Control Systems</italic>, we speak with Tom Chaffey at the University of Cambridge and Pieter Van Goor at the Australian National University (ANU).

Abstracts:This article offers insights on teaching practical improvements to control methods to engineers already practicing in the field. Virtually all these engineers have taken an introductory control class (perhaps many years ago) and have some experience with circuitry, programming, and actual control implementations. We argue that the lessons that have the most impact on these engineers are those that tie theoretical insight to methods that they can adapt almost immediately to make their jobs easier. We discuss both the environment of typical practicing engineers and some of the lessons that can immediately make them more effective. An earlier version of this article was presented at the 2019 International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC) Advances in Control Engineering Conference <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="ref1">[1]</xref>. This expanded version draws heavily on discussions at the author&#x2019;s Practical Methods for Real World Control Systems workshops and the companion book <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="ref2">[2]</xref>.