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

Registration Date/Time:
5/27/2025 7:30am Central Time

Event Dates/Times:

• 5/27/2025  8:00am - 5:00pm Central Time
• 5/28/2025  8:00am - 5:00pm Central Time
• 5/29/2025  8:00am - 5:00pm Central Time

• Program Director

  Blake Suhre

• Erick Oberstar

  Program Director

  Dr. Oberstar is a Program Director with InterPro and has over 27 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,bnight 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 SPIE & IEEE member.

• 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.

• 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.

• Thomas Glatz

  Business Development for Advanced Simulation Technologies

  

  For well over a decade, Mr. Glatz has been working on simulation topics in various roles at AVL, a private global technology company.  AVL specializes in mobility technology development, including simulation, testing, and solutions for the automotive industry and other sectors like rail, marine, aviation, and industrial green energy.  In his current role, he is responsible for the business development of AVL's Advanced Simulation Technologies business for the North American market.  He also serves as the primary technical expert for system simulation of batteries, fuel cells, and powertrain systems. Mr. Glatz is  a member of AVL's strategic initiative for AI and part of the international Creators Expedition team, AVL's startup-partnership initiative.  Furthermore, he supports strategic planning and future product development through market feedback, and represents AVL Simulation at various industry events, as a session chair, panelist, and speaker. 

  Prior to transferring to North America, Mr. Glatz was  a Senior Software Development Engineer  for AVL in his home country Austria, focusing on multi-physical system simulation software. With 5+ years in software development, he worked on various Battery, Fuel Cell, and Exhaust-aftertreatment solutions, and served as the expert liaison between the development team and internal and external partners.  His detailed industry insight regarding simulation processes and workflows from a user and application perspective can be attributed to his years spent with AVL's Engineering business unit that started his career.

  Mr. Glatz holds a MS and BS in Chemical Engineering from Graz University of Technology, where he was awarded a Graduation with honors.

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.