Optimal and Distributed Control in Animals

Abstract:  In this talk, I will describe the role of optimal and distributed control in both behavioral and implementation models of animal sensorimotor control. In some sense, animals behave like an optimal controller — but how is this optimal controller implemented in the brain and body of the animal, and what are the additional theory developments needed to adequately model this? Neurons do not communicate the same way that transistors do — this translates to communication delays and constraints that play a significant role in shaping the physiological implementation of biological controllers.

Bio:  Jing Shuang (Lisa) Li received a Bachelors of Applied Science from the University of Toronto and a PhD in Control and Dynamical Systems from Caltech. She joined the University of Michigan in Fall 2023. Her research focuses on distributed control theory with applications to neuroscience, biology, and large-scale systems.

***Event will take place in hybrid format. The location for in-person attendance will be room 1500 EECS.   Attendance will also be possible via Zoom. The Zoom link and password will be distributed to the Controls Group e-mail list-serv.

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