Prof. Borrelli's presentation offered a critical examination of the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in automatic control, with a particular focus on Optimal Control techniques. He explored the historical evolution of these techniques, from their traditional model-based foundations to modern data-driven methodologies empowered by AI. His talk underscored the growing alignment between theoretical control principles and computational advancements, discussing how certain classical methods are becoming less relevant in the wake of AI-driven approaches.

Throughout the lecture, Prof. Borrelli highlighted both the advantages and limitations of AI in control applications. He examined scenarios where AI-based techniques can surpass classical methods, as well as cases where the hype around AI may not be justified. The presentation concluded with an overview of state-of-the-art optimal control methods in practical applications, including self-driving cars, advanced robotics, and energy-efficient systems. A key takeaway was the potential for designing learning control architectures that integrate predictive capabilities at every level, allowing systems to autonomously refine their performance over time through continuous learning and interaction with their environment.

The event sparked engaging discussions among attendees, who had the opportunity to explore key challenges and opportunities in the integration of AI with control methodologies. LARES is proud to have hosted such a distinguished speaker and remains committed to fostering knowledge exchange between academia and industry. This event marks another step in LARES’ mission to promote advanced control strategies for sustainable energy solutions.

We thank Prof. Borrelli for his invaluable contributions and look forward to future collaborations! Photos from the event can be found in the gallery below.