Modern Powertrain System Controls

Day 1

1.0 Control System Architecture

2.1 Open & Closed Loop Control and Block Diagrams

2.2 Electric Machine Operation and Control

2.3 Modeling Dynamics in Continuous vs. Discrete Time

2.4 Feedback Control

2.5 PID Control Actions

2.6 Control Design Approaches

2.7 Feed-Forward Control

Day 2

3.1 Major System and Subsystem Controls

3.2 Bus Voltage Control

3.3 Battery Management (BMS)

3.4 Engine Control

Day 3

3.5 Transmission Control

3.6 Sensors Abstraction

3.7 Actuator Abstraction

3.8 Diagnostics (e.g., OBD II)

3.9 Functional Safety

3.10 Cybersecurity

4.0 Development Process

This course is part of the Electrified Systems Certificate series. Course may be taken individually as well.

Registration Date/Time:
10/14/2025 7:30am Central Time

Event Dates/Times:

• 10/14/2025  8:00am - 5:00pm Central Time
• 10/15/2025  8:00am - 5:00pm Central Time
• 10/16/2025  8:00am - 5:00pm Central Time

• Program Director

  Blake Suhre

• Instructors

  Erick Oberstar

  Program Director

  Dr. Oberstar is a Program Director with InterPro and has over 28 years of engineering and entrepreneurial experiences. At InterPro he manages programs for and teaches in the areas of AI/ML, Electrification, and Mechatronics. He has deep experience in embedded real time control systems, signal and image processing, robotics, automation, medical devices. He managed the UW-Madison Mechatronics Laboratory for 22 years where he taught courses in mechatronics, manufacturing automation, automatic controls, and discrete time controls.

  He has previous technical roles as a Scientist in the dept. of Medical Physics at UW, consultant for St. Jude Medical, and electrical engineer for Orbital Technologies Corporation, and Automation Components. In addition, he has numerous entrepreneurial experiences working on blood flow quantification, night vision, bacterial detection, robotics, automation, and general product development. 

  Dr. Oberstar has a Ph.D in Biomedical Engr., and MS in Electrical and Computer Engr. (WEMPEC) from U.W. – Madison, and a BS Electrical Engr. from U.W. – Platteville. He has over 30 publications with over 400 citations & 3 patents. Dr. Oberstar is a WI Professional Engineer, Harvey Spangler Award for Technology Enhanced Education winner & judge, as well as a SPIE member & senior member of IEEE

• Instructors

  Erick Oberstar

  Program Director

  Dr. Oberstar is a Program Director with InterPro and has over 28 years of engineering and entrepreneurial experiences. At InterPro he manages programs for and teaches in the areas of AI/ML, Electrification, and Mechatronics. He has deep experience in embedded real time control systems, signal and image processing, robotics, automation, medical devices. He managed the UW-Madison Mechatronics Laboratory for 22 years where he taught courses in mechatronics, manufacturing automation, automatic controls, and discrete time controls.

  He has previous technical roles as a Scientist in the dept. of Medical Physics at UW, consultant for St. Jude Medical, and electrical engineer for Orbital Technologies Corporation, and Automation Components. In addition, he has numerous entrepreneurial experiences working on blood flow quantification, night vision, bacterial detection, robotics, automation, and general product development. 

  Dr. Oberstar has a Ph.D in Biomedical Engr., and MS in Electrical and Computer Engr. (WEMPEC) from U.W. – Madison, and a BS Electrical Engr. from U.W. – Platteville. He has over 30 publications with over 400 citations & 3 patents. Dr. Oberstar is a WI Professional Engineer, Harvey Spangler Award for Technology Enhanced Education winner & judge, as well as a SPIE member & senior member of IEEE

  Blake Suhre

  Program Director

  Blake Suhre is Program Director, Power Engineering in Interdisciplinary Professional Programs (InterPro) at UW-Madison. He has over 30 years of experience in many aspects of vehicle and powertrain systems, engine systems, and controls development. He was involved in the initial development of model-based controls for internal combustion engines and has experience applying these techniques to all varieties of combustion system in use today. He was co-founder of the MotoTron Corporation and has held a variety of leadership roles in engine systems development and R&D. Suhre holds a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

• Instructors

  Erick Oberstar

  Program Director

  Dr. Oberstar is a Program Director with InterPro and has over 28 years of engineering and entrepreneurial experiences. At InterPro he manages programs for and teaches in the areas of AI/ML, Electrification, and Mechatronics. He has deep experience in embedded real time control systems, signal and image processing, robotics, automation, medical devices. He managed the UW-Madison Mechatronics Laboratory for 22 years where he taught courses in mechatronics, manufacturing automation, automatic controls, and discrete time controls.

  He has previous technical roles as a Scientist in the dept. of Medical Physics at UW, consultant for St. Jude Medical, and electrical engineer for Orbital Technologies Corporation, and Automation Components. In addition, he has numerous entrepreneurial experiences working on blood flow quantification, night vision, bacterial detection, robotics, automation, and general product development. 

  Dr. Oberstar has a Ph.D in Biomedical Engr., and MS in Electrical and Computer Engr. (WEMPEC) from U.W. – Madison, and a BS Electrical Engr. from U.W. – Platteville. He has over 30 publications with over 400 citations & 3 patents. Dr. Oberstar is a WI Professional Engineer, Harvey Spangler Award for Technology Enhanced Education winner & judge, as well as a SPIE member & senior member of IEEE

  Blake Suhre

  Program Director

  Blake Suhre is Program Director, Power Engineering in Interdisciplinary Professional Programs (InterPro) at UW-Madison. He has over 30 years of experience in many aspects of vehicle and powertrain systems, engine systems, and controls development. He was involved in the initial development of model-based controls for internal combustion engines and has experience applying these techniques to all varieties of combustion system in use today. He was co-founder of the MotoTron Corporation and has held a variety of leadership roles in engine systems development and R&D. Suhre holds a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

  Bob Lawrie

  President, Monolith Motors

  Bob Lawrie is freelance engineer.  He has over 30 years of experience designing and developing electronic control systems.  He initially joined Chrysler Corporation working on internal combustion engine control including a season with Lamborghini Formula 1 race engines.  He was an early adopter of vehicle simulation and model-based controls for hybrid vehicle powertrain design and control.  After leaving Chrysler, he worked with multiple start-ups and OEMs furthering his experience in automated code generation, distributed control systems, electric motor control and battery management. Bob has a BS in Mechanical engineering from Lehigh University.

• Instructors

  Erick Oberstar

  Program Director

  Dr. Oberstar is a Program Director with InterPro and has over 28 years of engineering and entrepreneurial experiences. At InterPro he manages programs for and teaches in the areas of AI/ML, Electrification, and Mechatronics. He has deep experience in embedded real time control systems, signal and image processing, robotics, automation, medical devices. He managed the UW-Madison Mechatronics Laboratory for 22 years where he taught courses in mechatronics, manufacturing automation, automatic controls, and discrete time controls.

  He has previous technical roles as a Scientist in the dept. of Medical Physics at UW, consultant for St. Jude Medical, and electrical engineer for Orbital Technologies Corporation, and Automation Components. In addition, he has numerous entrepreneurial experiences working on blood flow quantification, night vision, bacterial detection, robotics, automation, and general product development. 

  Dr. Oberstar has a Ph.D in Biomedical Engr., and MS in Electrical and Computer Engr. (WEMPEC) from U.W. – Madison, and a BS Electrical Engr. from U.W. – Platteville. He has over 30 publications with over 400 citations & 3 patents. Dr. Oberstar is a WI Professional Engineer, Harvey Spangler Award for Technology Enhanced Education winner & judge, as well as a SPIE member & senior member of IEEE

  Blake Suhre

  Program Director

  Blake Suhre is Program Director, Power Engineering in Interdisciplinary Professional Programs (InterPro) at UW-Madison. He has over 30 years of experience in many aspects of vehicle and powertrain systems, engine systems, and controls development. He was involved in the initial development of model-based controls for internal combustion engines and has experience applying these techniques to all varieties of combustion system in use today. He was co-founder of the MotoTron Corporation and has held a variety of leadership roles in engine systems development and R&D. Suhre holds a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

  Bob Lawrie

  President, Monolith Motors

  Bob Lawrie is freelance engineer.  He has over 30 years of experience designing and developing electronic control systems.  He initially joined Chrysler Corporation working on internal combustion engine control including a season with Lamborghini Formula 1 race engines.  He was an early adopter of vehicle simulation and model-based controls for hybrid vehicle powertrain design and control.  After leaving Chrysler, he worked with multiple start-ups and OEMs furthering his experience in automated code generation, distributed control systems, electric motor control and battery management. Bob has a BS in Mechanical engineering from Lehigh University.

  Caleb Secrest

  Global Sr. Manager, Controls Solutions & Calibration

  Caleb W. Secrest received a Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 2015. From 2011 to 2015, he was a Graduate Researcher at WEMPEC under Prof. R.D. Lorenz performing research on improving motor drive precision in order to utilize it as an embedded application specific sensor. From 2015 to 2019, he was a Sr. Motor Control Engineer at General Motors with focus on automotive traction application electric machines and power electronics (EMPE) control.  Currently, he is a Sr. Manager at BorgWarner Inc. where he leads a global team on the development and integration of EMPE systems and software for automotive traction applications.

10% discount per person for participants registered in the Electrified Systems certificate series. Promo code needed during registration.

When 2 employees from the same company enroll, the registration fee is $1,795 per person. 

When 3 or more employees from the same company enroll, the registration fee is $1,596 per person. 

The Wisconsin Electric Machines and Power Electronics Consortium (WEMPEC) Member Discount: $200 off the course fee. Your affiliation will be verified. 

DERC members can receive 10% off per member or 20% off per registration fee when 3 or more members enroll. Promo code required.

If you are planning to attend an Interdisciplinary Professional Programs course, payment is required at the time of registration. Below are the payment options:

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

• Search for the course on the website and then click on the Enroll Now button from the course webpage.
• Enter all necessary course attendee information and payment information on the course enrollment page.
• You will receive an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

• Call CERC Registrations at 608-262-2451.
• Provide the registrations representative with:
  • the course name, dates, and/or course number.
  • the necessary course attendee information and payment information.
• You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment payment.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

• Fill out a registration form (found either in the back of the course brochure you received in the mail or here).
• Prepare a check, made payable to UW Madison.
• Mail the registration form and check to: CERC Registrations 21 N Park St, Ste 7101 Madison, WI 53715
• You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Pay by Purchase Order

• Request Purchase Order information from interpro@union.wisc.edu
  • If a fee quote is needed, contact custserv@interpro.wisc.edu first
• You will receive an invoice from UW–Madison Business Services for payment, usually within 3–5 business days

Military

If using SF-182 form, please call our registration number at 608-262-2451 or email interpro@union.wisc.edu for details and instructions.

Event Cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen events. If we cancel a course, participants will be notified via email or phone and will be given the option for a full refund or to transfer their registration and any fees paid to another course. We are not responsible for non-refundable plane tickets, hotel reservations, and other travel related expenses. For enrollee Course Cancellation, refer to notes on course page.

If you cannot attend, please notify us no later than one week before your course begins, and we will refund your fee. Cancellations received after this date and no-shows are subject to a $150 administrative fee. You may enroll a substitute at any time before the course starts.