Scott A. Bortoff

Scott A. Bortoff
  • Biography

    Scott's research interests are in applications of nonlinear and optimal control theory to motion control, path planning and process control problems. Before joining MERL in 2009, Scott led the Controls Group at the United Technology Research Center and previously was an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto.

  • Recent News & Events


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  • Internships with Scott

    • MS0106: Internship - Optimal Control of Multiphysical Systems

      MERL seeks a qualified, highly-motivated graduate student for an internship in the area of systems-level dynamic modeling, analysis and optimal control of next-generation thermofluid systems used in heating, cooling and ventilation (HVAC) applications. HVAC systems for applications such as data centers or district heating and cooling are characterized as dynamic networks, described by a large sets of differential and algebraic equations expressing physics (conservation laws), together with discrete and continuous equations describing the action of control. These are large scale, hybrid, constrained nonlinear systems. The MS group at MERL invites qualified graduate students to join its efforts in system level dynamic modeling, analysis and especially control of these systems. The research results are expected to impact both development of new products at Mitsubishi Electric, and also be published in leading conferences and journals.

      Required Specific Experience

      • Strong education and experience with nonlinear differential-algebraic equations is required.
      • Strong education and working knowledge of optimal and nonlinear control theory is required.
      • Knowledge of mathematical methods for hybrid systems is an asset.
      • Some experience with thermofluid systems is an asset.

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  • MERL Publications

    •  Bortoff, S.A., Laughman, C.R., Deshpande, V.M., Qiao, H., "Fluid Property Functions in Polar and Parabolic Coordinates", American Modelica Conference, October 2024.
      BibTeX TR2024-144 PDF
      • @inproceedings{Bortoff2024oct,
      • author = {Bortoff, Scott A. and Laughman, Christopher R. and Deshpande, Vedang M. and Qiao, Hongtao}},
      • title = {Fluid Property Functions in Polar and Parabolic Coordinates},
      • booktitle = {American Modelica Conference},
      • year = 2024,
      • month = oct,
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2024-144}
      • }
    •  Chakrabarty, A., Vanfretti, L., Bortoff, S.A., Deshpande, V.M., Wang, Y., Paulson, J.A., Zhan, S., Laughman, C.R., "Assessing Building Control Performance Using Physics-Based Simulation Models and Deep Generative Networks", IEEE Conference on Control Technology and Applications (CCTA) 2024, DOI: 10.1109/​CCTA60707.2024.10666585, August 2024.
      BibTeX TR2024-113 PDF
      • @inproceedings{Chakrabarty2024aug,
      • author = {Chakrabarty, Ankush and Vanfretti, Luigi and Bortoff, Scott A. and Deshpande, Vedang M. and Wang, Ye and Paulson, Joel A. and Zhan, Sicheng and Laughman, Christopher R.}},
      • title = {Assessing Building Control Performance Using Physics-Based Simulation Models and Deep Generative Networks},
      • booktitle = {IEEE Conference on Control Technology and Applications (CCTA) 2024},
      • year = 2024,
      • month = aug,
      • doi = {10.1109/CCTA60707.2024.10666585},
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2024-113}
      • }
    •  Bortoff, S.A., Qiao, H., Laughman, C.R., "Modeling and Control of a Multi-Mode Heat Pump", IEEE Conference on Control Technology and Applications (CCTA) 2024, August 2024.
      BibTeX TR2024-111 PDF
      • @inproceedings{Bortoff2024aug,
      • author = {{Bortoff, Scott A. and Qiao, Hongtao and Laughman, Christopher R.}},
      • title = {Modeling and Control of a Multi-Mode Heat Pump},
      • booktitle = {IEEE Conference on Control Technology and Applications (CCTA) 2024},
      • year = 2024,
      • month = aug,
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2024-111}
      • }
    •  Bortoff, S.A., Eisenhower, B., Adetola, V., O'Neil, Z., "Control Challenges and Opportunities in Building Automation" in The Impact of Automatic Control Research on Industrial Innovation: Enabling a Sustainable Future, February 2024.
      BibTeX TR2024-011 PDF
      • @incollection{Bortoff2024feb,
      • author = {{Bortoff, Scott A. and Eisenhower, Bryan and Adetola, Veronica and O'Neil, Zheng}},
      • title = {Control Challenges and Opportunities in Building Automation},
      • booktitle = {The Impact of Automatic Control Research on Industrial Innovation: Enabling a Sustainable Future},
      • year = 2024,
      • month = feb,
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2024-011}
      • }
    •  Qiao, H., Kobayashi, T., Laughman, C.R., Bortoff, S.A., "On the Characteristics of One-Dimensional Compressible Flow", International Modelica Conference, Dirk Müller, Antonello Monti, and Andrea Benigni, Eds., DOI: 10.3384/​ecp204327, December 2023, pp. 327-336.
      BibTeX TR2024-001 PDF
      • @inproceedings{Qiao2023dec,
      • author = {Qiao, Hongtao and Kobayashi, Takashi and Laughman, Christopher R. and Bortoff, Scott A.},
      • title = {On the Characteristics of One-Dimensional Compressible Flow},
      • booktitle = {Proceedings of the 15th International Modelica Conference 2023},
      • year = 2023,
      • editor = {Dirk Müller, Antonello Monti, and Andrea Benigni},
      • pages = {327--336},
      • month = dec,
      • doi = {10.3384/ecp204327},
      • isbn = {978-91-8075-505-4},
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2024-001}
      • }
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  • Software & Data Downloads

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  • MERL Issued Patents

    • Title: "System and Method for Calculation of Thermofluid Properties using Saturation Curve-Aligned Coordinates"
      Inventors: Laughman, Christopher; Bortoff, Scott A.; Qiao, Hongtao
      Patent No.: 11,739,996
      Issue Date: Aug 29, 2023
    • Title: "Controlling Vapor Compression System Using Probabilistic Surrogate Model"
      Inventors: Chakrabarty, Ankush; Laughman, Christopher; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 11,573,023
      Issue Date: Feb 7, 2023
    • Title: "Extremum Seeking Control with Stochastic Gradient Estimation"
      Inventors: Chakrabarty, Ankush; Danielson, Claus; Bortoff, Scott A.; Laughman, Christopher
      Patent No.: 11,467,544
      Issue Date: Oct 11, 2022
    • Title: "System and Method for Power Optimizing Control of Multi-Zone Heat Pumps"
      Inventors: Bortoff, Scott A.; Burns, Daniel J; Laughman, Christopher; Qiao, Hongtao
      Patent No.: 10,895,412
      Issue Date: Jan 19, 2021
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling Refrigerant in Vapor Compression System"
      Inventors: Laughman, Christopher; Qiao, Hongtao; Burns, Daniel J; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 10,830,515
      Issue Date: Nov 10, 2020
    • Title: "System and Method for Thermal Comfort Control"
      Inventors: Bortoff, Scott A.; Laughman, Christopher
      Patent No.: 10,767,887
      Issue Date: Sep 8, 2020
    • Title: "Motion Controller for Real-Time Continuous Curvature Path Planning"
      Inventors: Bortoff, Scott A.; Wang, Yebin; Dai, Jin
      Patent No.: 10,591,915
      Issue Date: Mar 17, 2020
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling Vapor Compression Systems"
      Inventors: Burns, Daniel J; Laughman, Christopher; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 10,495,364
      Issue Date: Dec 3, 2019
    • Title: "Control of Redundant Laser Processing Machines"
      Inventors: Di Cairano, Stefano; Haghighat, Sohrab; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 10,307,863
      Issue Date: Jun 4, 2019
    • Title: "Coordinated Operation of Multiple Space-Conditioning Systems"
      Inventors: Laughman, Christopher; Qiao, Hongtao; Burns, Daniel J; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 10,234,158
      Issue Date: Mar 19, 2019
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling Multi-Zone Vapor Compression Systems"
      Inventors: Burns, Daniel J; Di Cairano, Stefano; Bortoff, Scott A.; Laughman, Christopher
      Patent No.: 10,174,957
      Issue Date: Jan 8, 2019
    • Title: "Method and System for Controlling Angular Speeds of Motors in Speed Sensorless Induction Motors"
      Inventors: Wang, Yebin; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,985,563
      Issue Date: May 29, 2018
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling Vapor Compression Systems"
      Inventors: Burns, Daniel J; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,915,456
      Issue Date: Mar 13, 2018
    • Title: "Control of Processing Machines with Redundant Actuators"
      Inventors: Di Cairano, Stefano; Goldsmith, Abraham M.; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,744,620
      Issue Date: Aug 29, 2017
    • Title: "System and Method for Calibrating Laser Processing Machines"
      Inventors: Goldsmith, Abraham M.; Bortoff, Scott A.; Shilpiekandula, Vijay; Sullivan, Alan; Yerazunis, William S.; Barnwell, John C.
      Patent No.: 9,718,146
      Issue Date: Aug 1, 2017
    • Title: "Method and System for Computing Reference Signals for Machines with Redundant Positioning"
      Inventors: Haghighat, Sohrab; Di Cairano, Stefano; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,696,709
      Issue Date: Jul 4, 2017
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling of Vapor Compression System"
      Inventors: Burns, Dan; Jain, Neera; Laughman, Christopher; Di Cairano, Stefano; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,625,196
      Issue Date: Apr 18, 2017
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling Vapor Compression Systems"
      Inventors: Burns, Dan; Laughman, Christopher; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,534,820
      Issue Date: Jan 3, 2017
    • Title: "Motion-Control System for Performing Different Tasks"
      Inventors: Wang, Yebin; Jiang, Yu; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,529,341
      Issue Date: Dec 27, 2016
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling Temperature and Humidity in Multiple Spaces using Liquid Desiccant"
      Inventors: Laughman, Christopher; Burns, Daniel J; Bortoff, Scott A.; Waters, Richard C.
      Patent No.: 9,518,765
      Issue Date: Dec 13, 2016
    • Title: "Optimization of System Control Based on Solving Multi-Point Boundary Value Problems"
      Inventors: Wang, Yebin; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,378,469
      Issue Date: Jun 28, 2016
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling Redundant Actuators of a Machine"
      Inventors: Shilpiekandula, Vijay; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,261,872
      Issue Date: Feb 16, 2016
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling Semi-Active Actuators Arranged to Minimize Vibration in Elevator Systems"
      Inventors: Wang, Yebin; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,242,837
      Issue Date: Jan 26, 2016
    • Title: "Determining Trajectories of Redundant Actuators Jointly Tracking Reference Trajectory"
      Inventors: Shilpiekandula, Vijay; Brand, Matthew E.; Srikanth, Manohar; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,170,580
      Issue Date: Oct 27, 2015
    • Title: "Elevator Rope Sway Estimation"
      Inventors: Benosman, Mouhacine; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,096,411
      Issue Date: Aug 4, 2015
    • Title: "Method for Determining Trajectory of Multi-Motor Control System Avoiding Obstacle"
      Inventors: Wang, Yebin; Yu, Han; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,076,337
      Issue Date: Jul 7, 2015
    • Title: "Elevator Rope Sway Estimation"
      Inventors: Benosman, Mouhacine; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 9,045,313
      Issue Date: Jun 2, 2015
    • Title: "Cabling Configuration for Railless Elevators"
      Inventors: Shilpiekandula, Vijay; Yerazunis, William S.; Barnwell, III, John C.; Bortoff, Scott A.; Katz, Joseph
      Patent No.: 8,978,831
      Issue Date: Mar 17, 2015
    • Title: "Laser Cutting Machine"
      Inventors: Yerazunis, William S.; Barnwell, III, John C.; Bortoff, Scott A.; Shilpiekandula, Vijay; Goldsmith, Abraham M.
      Patent No.: 8,921,734
      Issue Date: Dec 30, 2014
    • Title: "Controller for Reducing Vibrations in Mechanical Systems"
      Inventors: Benosman, Mouhacine; Shilpiekandula, Vijay; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 8,855,826
      Issue Date: Oct 7, 2014
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling Semi-Active Actuators Arranged to Minimize Vibration in Elevator Systems"
      Inventors: Wang, Yebin; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 8,849,465
      Issue Date: Sep 30, 2014
    • Title: "An Energy Efficient Motion Control System"
      Inventors: Wang, Yebin; Koichiro, Ueda; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 8,816,627
      Issue Date: Aug 26, 2014
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling Semi-Active Actuators"
      Inventors: Wang, Yebin; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 8,768,522
      Issue Date: Jul 1, 2014
    • Title: "Method for Generating Trajectories for Motor Controlled Actuators"
      Inventors: Wang, Yebin; Bortoff, Scott A.; Zhao, Yiming
      Patent No.: 8,700,190
      Issue Date: Apr 15, 2014
    • Title: "System and Method for Controlling Operations of Vapor Compression"
      Inventors: Bortoff, Scott A.; Burns, Dan J.; Laughman, Christopher
      Patent No.: 8,694,131
      Issue Date: Apr 8, 2014
    • Title: "Base Vibration Attenuation and Load Tracking in Mechanical System"
      Inventors: Shilpiekandula, Vijay; Bortoff, Scott A.
      Patent No.: 8,513,906
      Issue Date: Aug 20, 2013
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