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Modeling the Possibilities: From the chalkboard to the race track to the world beyond

Simple mathematical models of physical systems give us tremendous insight into the nature of their underlying dynamics and the control challenges they present.

ICRA

ICRA 2017 Plenary: Singapore

Modeling the possibilities: From the Chalkboard to the Race Track to the World Beyond

Simple mathematical models of physical systems give us tremendous insight into the nature of their underlying dynamics and the control challenges they present. Stripping away unnecessary details can illuminate fundamental dependencies and focus engineering efforts on the most critical problems. The challenge comes when models become so familiar that they are no longer taken as simplifications but mistaken for reality itself. Opportunities and possibilities that lie outside the bounds of those simple models are subsequently missed.