The safe and efficient operation of complex dynamic systems requires not only stable control but also reliable online monitoring. This is crucial in almost all technical applications, ranging from vehicles, traction batteries, and fuel cells to power plants, cooling systems, and industrial production facilities.

A key method for monitoring is model-based state diagnosis, an essential tool in control engineering. Mathematical models are utilized to estimate a system’s current state, even when not all relevant variables can be measured directly.

Since real-world systems often provide only a limited number of measurements, observer algorithms are employed. These continuously compare a simulation model with the system’s measured outputs and correct deviations. This allows for the reliable estimation of internal states, such as the temperature distribution in a fuel cell or the state of charge of a battery.

Model-based state diagnosis significantly contributes to the safety, efficiency, and longevity of technical systems and is applied in various fields, including:

• E-mobility: Estimation of battery state-of-charge and aging for accurate range prediction.
• Fuel cells: Monitoring internal states to prevent degradation and improve efficiency.
• Machinery and industrial systems: Detecting malfunctions or faults to prevent failures.
• GPS navigation: Enhancing positioning accuracy through state estimation techniques.

Moreover, model-based state estimation can be used to analyze and predict wave-like patterns in pandemics.

Research Projects at our Institute

• HyStEPs
• CDL Battery Research
• DiNaMiC
• EDCSproof

Publications

Fuchs, Benjamin, Florian Altmann, Martin Vrlić, Stefan Braun, Martin Kozek, Christoph Hametner, and Stefan Jakubek. "Nonlinear distributed-parameter observer design for efficient estimation of internal temperature profiles in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells., opens an external URL in a new window" Nonlinear Dynamics (2025): 1-25.

Bartlechner, Johanna, Martin Vrlić, Christoph Hametner, and Stefan Jakubek. "State-of-Health observer for PEM fuel cells—A novel approach for real-time online analysis., opens an external URL in a new window" International Journal of Hydrogen Energy (2024).

Hametner, Christoph, Lukas Böhler, Martin Kozek, Johanna Bartlechner, Oliver Ecker, Zhang Peng Du, Robert Kölbl, Michael Bergmann, Thomas Bachleitner-Hofmann, and Stefan Jakubek. "Intensive care unit occupancy predictions in the COVID-19 pandemic based on age-structured modelling and differential flatness, opens an external URL in a new window." Nonlinear Dynamics (2022): 1-19.

Fuhrmann, Florian, Alexander Schirrer, and Martin Kozek. "Model-predictive energy management system for thermal batch production processes using online load prediction, opens an external URL in a new window" Computers & Chemical Engineering 163 (2022): 107830.

Hametner, Christoph, Martin Kozek, Lukas Böhler, Alexander Wasserburger, Zhang Peng Du, Robert Kölbl, Michael Bergmann, Thomas Bachleitner-Hofmann, and Stefan Jakubek. "Estimation of exogenous drivers to predict COVID-19 pandemic using a method from nonlinear control theory, opens an external URL in a new window" Nonlinear Dynamics 106, no. 1 (2021): 1111-1125.

Pernsteiner, Dominik, Alexander Schirrer, Lukas Kasper, René Hofmann, and Stefan Jakubek. "Data-based model reduction for phase change problems with convective heat transfer, opens an external URL in a new window" Applied Thermal Engineering 184 (2021): 116228.

Böhler, Lukas, Daniel Ritzberger, Christoph Hametner, and Stefan Jakubek. "Constrained extended Kalman filter design and application for on-line state estimation of high-order polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell systems, opens an external URL in a new window" international journal of hydrogen energy 46, no. 35 (2021): 18604-18614.

Pernsteiner, Dominik, Alexander Schirrer, Lukas Kasper, René Hofmann, and Stefan Jakubek. "State estimation concept for a nonlinear melting/solidification problem of a latent heat thermal energy storage, opens an external URL in a new window" Computers & Chemical Engineering 153 (2021): 107444.

Ritzberger, Daniel, Christoph Hametner, and Stefan Jakubek. "A real-time dynamic fuel cell system simulation for model-based diagnostics and control: Validation on real driving data, opens an external URL in a new window" Energies 13, no. 12 (2020): 3148.

Hametner, Christoph, Stefan Jakubek, and Wenzel Prochazka. "Data-driven design of a cascaded observer for battery state of health estimation, opens an external URL in a new window" IEEE Transactions on industry applications54.6 (2018): 6258-6266.

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