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Coffee and Control

Lucy Hodgins
Control Theory
Model Predictive Control
Robust Control
Quantum Control
Autonomous Vehicles
Game Theory
Biological Systems
Reinforcement Learning
European Control Conference
Behavioral Systems Theory
Control Engineering
Adaptive Cruise Control
River Systems
Machine Learning
Nextcom
Resource Allocation
Generative Adversarial Networks
Data-Driven Control
Synthetic Biology
Integral Quadratic Constraints

Podcast in which I interview fascinating people from within the world of control theory/ control engineering. Primarily aimed at PhD/masters students but can hopefully be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in control. New episodes released monthly

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes26Founded2 years ago
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ScienceMathematics

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Artwork for Coffee and Control

Latest Episodes

In this episode I have the pleasure of attending the CONTROL2026 conference, and bring you along with me! This conference was the largest gatheringof control engineers in the UK recent years, co-organized by the ACE network and UK Automatic Control C... more

In the second part of my interview with the incredibly talented Carmen Amo Alonso we discuss her fascinating work at the intersection of AI and control, examining topics such as:

Using tools from control theory to analyse and design AI systems

Cont... more

YouTube

In this episode I talk to the very wonderful Carmen Amo Alonso about her (award-winning) PhD research on distributed and localised MPC. We also cover super interesting and useful concepts such as system-level synthesis and ADMM, as well as her intern... more

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In this episode I talk to three lovely researchers all about journal clubs (AKA reading groups) – what they are, why you might want to be part of one, and how to start your own! I also give some insights from my own experiences running a (control-rel... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Carmen Amo Alonso
Schmidt Science Fellow, post-doctoral researcher at Stanford, incoming assistant professor at UC Berkeley (2027)
Schmidt Science Fellowship, Stanford University, UC Berkeley
Episode: Carmen Amo Alonso: Part 2 (AI Architectures and the Dynamics of Intelligence)
Antonia Marcu
New Frontier Fellow at University of Southampton, runs reading group for three years
University of Southampton
Episode: Journal Clubs (Creating reading groups that people want to be part of)
Al Edwards
Associate Professor in Digital Health and Biomedical Engineering, Southampton
University of Southampton
Episode: Journal Clubs (Creating reading groups that people want to be part of)
Brian Douglas
Technical content creator at MathWorks, focused on education and outreach in controls
MathWorks
Episode: Brian Douglas (Control Engineering in Industry)
Gioele Zardini
Assistant professor at MIT, focusing on complex systems and co-design
MIT
Episode: Gioele Zardini (Engineering Trade-offs and Co-design)
Dr. Barbara Franci
Assistant Professor at Politecnico di Torino specializing in game theory and optimization
Politecnico di Torino
Episode: Barbara Franci (Game Theory and Resource Allocation)
Dr. Sophie Schirmer
An associate professor at the University of Swansea specializing in quantum control and engineering applications.
University of Swansea
Episode: Sophie Schirmer (Quantum Control 2: Controllability and Robustness)
Dr. Carrie Weidner
Senior Lecturer at the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
Episode: Carrie Weidner (Quantum Control 1: Optimisation and Application)
Dr. Andy Lawrence
Head of Engineering at the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
EPSRC
Episode: Andy Lawrence (EPSRC grant funding)

Host

Lucy Hodgins
Host of Coffee and Control

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 8 ratings
  • Unlistenable

    Unlistenable. High pitched screeching.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    PrivateJoker911
    United Kingdoma month ago

Listeners Say

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Lucy Hodgins hosts engaging, technically rigorous discussions with researchers and industry practitioners in control theory.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Carmen Amo Alonso: Part 1 (Distributed and Localized Model Predictive Control)
Q: Why is a data-driven approach relevant for large-scale networks in this framework?
Because accurate models are often unavailable for large, complex systems; leveraging past trajectories and Willems lemma allows replacing strict model-based constraints with data-driven predictions, maintaining performance without perfect models.
Carmen Amo Alonso: Part 1 (Distributed and Localized Model Predictive Control)
Q: How do open-loop MPC and closed-loop MPC differ in practice?
Open-loop MPC optimizes a sequence of future inputs directly, while closed-loop MPC optimizes over a class of policies or controllers, enabling feedback and potentially reducing conservatism when disturbances exist.
Carmen Amo Alonso: Part 2 (AI Architectures and the Dynamics of Intelligence)
Q: What does it mean to control text generation in large language models, and how is this implemented in practice?
Control is framed as applying minimal interventions across layers via a formal optimal control problem, using feedback across layers to ensure outputs stay within desired constraints while preserving the model's internal dynamics.
Carmen Amo Alonso: Part 2 (AI Architectures and the Dynamics of Intelligence)
Q: Could you give an overview of the different levels of granularity in AI architectures and what their roles are within the overall AI architecture?
The guest outlines levels from deep architecture (tokens, diffusion, transformers) to surrounding components and token mixers, with all levels modeled as dynamical systems that can be controlled to shape behavior.
Carmen Amo Alonso: Part 2 (AI Architectures and the Dynamics of Intelligence)
Q: So since you're PhD, you've kind of moved areas. How did you end up doing research in this area and why is it interesting to you?
Carmen explains that curiosity about language, her linguist father, and collaboration with John Doyle sparked the move, eventually aligning energy around making language and AI controllable as engineering systems, much like bridges or airplanes are trusted because of guarantees.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Coffee and Control

What is Coffee and Control about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This series centers on control theory and control engineering through conversations with researchers, engineers, and practitioners who apply core concepts to real-world systems. Episodes frequently explore topics such as model predictive control, nonlinear and data-driven control, robotics, autonomous vehicles, game theory in optimization, and the broader impact of control in academia and industry. A notable strength is the blend of deep technical discussion with accessible storytelling, case studies, and practical career guidance for students and early-career researchers. The show often highlights multidisciplinary collaboration, educational outreach, and community-building within the field, making it a strong resource for listeners who wa... more

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Coffee and Control launched 2 years ago and published 26 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Coffee and Control?

Recent guests on Coffee and Control include:

1. Carmen Amo Alonso
2. Antonia Marcu
3. Al Edwards
4. Brian Douglas
5. Gioele Zardini
6. Dr. Barbara Franci
7. Dr. Sophie Schirmer
8. Dr. Carrie Weidner

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