MSc Control and Robotics
Control Systems (CORO CSYS)

NB This specialism is no longer on offer after the 2024/25 academic year.

Programme Objectives

The objective of this specialism in Control and Robotics is to provide theoretical and methodological tools in order to analyse the structure and properties of dynamic systems, and to design control and observation solutions.

The courses introduce recent results in modern control theory of linear and nonlinear systems, including structural analysis, modelling, control and observation structures design (robust, optimal, …), and application of optimization methods in control system design. An important component is the use of real applications across different fields (energy, grids, transportation etc) in order to illustrate the different concepts of modelling, control and observation.

The programme of study lasts two academic years - denoted by M1 and M2 and is taught in English. It comprises three study semesters followed by a paid Master's thesis / internship in the final semester.

Our Master's programmes in Control and Robotics are fully accredited by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.

► See our other Master's programmes in Control and Robotics

Contribution to sustainable development goals

 

► Learn more about Centrale Nantes' commitment to the 17 sustainable development goals

Course Content

30 ECTS Credits per semester.
Language of instruction: English
 

M1 Year - 2023/24

Autumn Semester Courses	ECTS	Spring Semester Courses	ECTS
Signal Processing	5	Group Project	6
Classical Linear Control	5	Optimization Techniques	5
Artificial Intelligence	6	Mobile Robots	5
Modelling of Manipulators	4	Systems Identification and Signal Filtering	4
Mathematical Tools for Signals and Systems	4	Dynamic Model Based Control	4
Embedded Computing	4	Non Linear Control Theory	4
Modern Languages *	2	Modern Languages *	2

* 'French as Foreign Language' except for French native speakers who will study 'Cultural and Communicational English' or Spanish (depending on sufficient demand).

NB Course content may be subject to minor changes

M2 Year - 2024/25

Autumn Semester Courses	ECTS
Mathematical modelling	4
Optimization	4
Robust and optimal control	4
Observation and diagnostic	5
Complex systems	4
Analysis and Control Methodologies: Standard, Generalized and Time-Varying Systems	5
Project	2
Modern Languages *	2
Conferences	-

* 'French as Foreign Language' except for French native speakers who will study 'Cultural and Communicational English' or Spanish (depending on sufficient demand).
NB Course content may be subject to minor changes
 

Spring Semester	ECTS
Master thesis / internship	30

Examples of previous internships:

• Comparative study of hybrid observers : application in electric vehicles (LS2N, Renault)
• Stator-Flux-Oriented Control of EH/HEV Motor Drives (Renault)  
• Extended glycemic control model including physical activity and stress (CHU, LS2N)  
• Development of a condition monitoring system prototype for rotating machines with industry 4.0 standards and vibration analysis using machine learning techniques (ACTEMIUM)
  Uncertainties in model predictive building climate control (KU LEVEN)

NB Internships undertaken in France are strictly regulated and are only open to current full-time students of an accredited educational institution. Interns are entitled to all the rights guaranteed to regular employees (such as social protection and redress mechanisms). For internships that exceed two months in duration a minimum level of remuneration is set by the government, at approximately €600 per month. In some professional branches, this amount may be higher.

Skills developed

• Learn and understand the modern theory framework for analysis and modelling of dynamic systems;
• Learn how to apply adapted methods of control, estimation and diagnostics (linear, nonlinear, robust, optimal etc) to dynamic systems;
• Be able to apply these methods to real systems.

 

In addition to the above specialism-specific skills, students will also develop more general skills:

 

• Identify models, perform simulation and analyse results
• Communicate comprehensive results in a meaningful way
• Undertake bibliographic surveys of international research and professional literature
• Manage or be part of a project

Download syllabus | Control and Robotics - Control Systems

• M1 Year
• M2 Year

Facilities and Partnerships

Faculty and Research Facilities

This Control and Robotics programme relies on Centrale Nantes’ faculty and the research facilities of the LS2N Laboratory.

Focus on unique resources

Electric Vehicle Test Bench

 

Test facilities - low voltage electrical machines

As part of an industrial research chair with Renault, which aims to improve the performance of electric propulsion in motor vehicles, Centrale Nantes has an electric vehicle test bench specifically for automotive electric propulsion. It comprises of test engines supplied by Renault and a control, power electronics and dynamic load environment to simulate driving situations.
 

• Learn more

Partnerships

Renault, Airbus, RTE, VALEO, GE, Naval Group, GSM, etc

After the MSc

Career Prospects

• Sectors: aeronautics, automotive, transportation, energy, consulting, banking, petroleum
• Fields: control engineering, advanced processes, manufacturing, research and innovation
• Positions: control engineer, process engineer, design engineer, research and innovation engineer (post PhD)

Where are they now?

Recent graduates of this programme have either taken up engineering posts in industry e.g., in Robotics R&D, nuclear design, automatic control, control systems at GE, Assystem, LITIS, Amazon, CELAD, etc, co-founded their own company (e.g. CodifyMonk in India), or pursued their studies with a PhD in French, German or Dutch universities including within industrial research chairs at Centrale Nantes.

► Find out what our recent MSc graduates across all programmes are doing now

Meet the Programme Supervisors

Ina Taralova, M2 Programme Supervisor CORO C-SYS

Elwan Héry, M1 Programme Supervisor CORO

Elwan Héry is an associate professor at Centrale Nantes and at the LS2N (Laboratory of Digital Sciences of Nantes) in the ARMEN team (Autonomous Robots and Control of Interactions with the Environment). His main research interests are in perception, localization and mapping for autonomous vehicles and mobile robots.
 

Olivier Kermorgant, Programme Supervisor CORO

Olivier Kermorgant is a graduate of Centrale Paris, with a PhD from Inria Rennes-Bretagne Atlantique. His career history includes a teaching position at Télécom Physique Strasbourg and a research engineer position at IRT Jules Verne, working on the prototyping of an autonomous mobile robot in the ship industry. Since 2015 he has been an associate professor at Centrale Nantes and a researcher in the LS2N in the ARMEN team.