SCHOOL OF INDUSTRIAL

AND INFORMATION ENGINEERING

Automation and Control Engineering

Laurea Magistrale – equivalent to Master of Science
Open Day, 26 - 27 May 2021
 Politecnico di Milano
More than 46.300 4 Schools
students including • Architecture Urban Planning
about 6.700 Construction Engineering
international studenti • Design
• Civil, Environmental and
Land Management
Engineering
• Industrial and
Information Engineering
More than 1.400
teaching and more
than 1.200
administrative and 12
technical support staff Departments

Classificied n. 1 in Italy, n. 7 in Europe, n. 20 in the world

under the ‘’Engineering & Technology’’ category
QS World University Ranking 2020
 Politecnico di Milano: Campuses

Como ▪ engineering
Cremona ▪ design
Milano Bovisa ▪ architecture
Milano Leonardo
Lecco
Mantova
Piacenza

4.305 34.759 7.260

Automation Engineering

Study Programme in Automation Engineering:

▪ offered within the School of Industrial and
Information Engineering
▪ based at Milano Leonardo Campus
Automation Engineering

Automation Engineering Laurea

(equivalent to Bachelor of Science)

Automation and Control Engineering

Laurea Magistrale
(equivalent to Master of Science)

PhD Programme in Information

Technology, Systems and Control
 Attractiveness of the MSc programme

Year Italians Foreigners Total Enrollments

2004/05 66 0 66 250
2005/06 73 0 73
2006/07 47 0 47 200

2007/08 56 0 56
150
2008/09 57 0 57
2009/10 55 0 55 100

2010/11 64 44 108
50
2011/12 79 28 107
2012/13 84 24 108
0
2013/14 66 26 92
2014/15 78 26 104
2015/16 117 41 158 italians foreigners total
2016/17 139 43 182
2017/18 139 30 169
2018/19 174 49 223
2019/20 156 41 197
2020/21 202 31 233
 Learning objectives

The Automation and Control

Engineering MSc Programme
aims at training engineers …

… able to design, implement and

manage automation systems
characterized by a strong
technological content, in inherently
multidisciplinary contexts
 Competences of our MSc students

• solid background on the mathematical tools necessary for the analysis and
design of complex automation systems
• a thorough understanding of the technologies and processes typical of industrial
sectors where automation plays an increasingly important role
• ability to explore and evaluate the offer and market trends in the field of
instrumentation and system components, in view of innovative applications
• familiarity with the most advanced techniques for identification and data
analysis, simulation, optimization and control of dynamical systems of all kinds,
and ability to integrate them in an effective and creative manner
• aptitude for teamwork and ability to embrace the principles and methods of
organization
 Programme requirements

Single curriculum, organized in two years, four semesters, with courses taught in
English, except for a few optional ones in Italian. Most courses are held at
Leonardo Campus, a few at Bovisa Campus.

Students have to earn 120 credits according to their study plan:

▪ 60 credits of mandatory courses:
‐ 45 on qualifying subjects (systems and control, identification, converters
and drives, applied mechanics)
‐ 15 credits on subsidiary subjects (computer science, electronics,
measurements, industrial production technologies)
▪ 40 credits of complementary courses
▪ 20 credits for a final thesis on new methods and techniques for automation and
control with application in high-tech areas
 Programme structure

Course title Credits Semester

1st year (CFU)
Computer aided manufacturing 10 1
Dynamics of mechanical systems 10 1
Model identification and data analysis:
2nd year • Statistical learning 10 1
• System identification and prediction
Advanced and multivariable control 10 2
Dynamics of electrical machines and drives 10 2
Complementary courses 10 2
 Programme structure

1st year

Course title Credits Semester

2nd year (CFU)
Software Engineering (for Automation) 5 2
Automation and Control Laboratory 5 2
Complementary courses 30 1, 2
Thesis 20 1, 2
 Course offer

Courses can be classified in the following categories:

• methodological, on advanced techniques of learning from data, identification,
simulation, optimization and control
• technological, on process instrumentation including advanced actuation and
measurement systems for control applications
• application-oriented, on the application of control and automation to key areas
such as industry, energy, and transportation
• experimental and professionalizing, including a lab course and a project work
with companies to reach a full mastery of methods and techniques, and
improve soft skills
 Automation and Control Laboratory

▪ course held in a lab

▪ students divided in groups,
working on various experimental
set-up
▪ mandatory course in the second
semester of the second year
 Project work

Project works are innovative courses in collaboration with companies

▪ companies propose open innovation topics, on design activities in
the field of automation and control
▪ each project work is run under the supervision of an academic and
an industrial tutor
▪ students work in small groups during the semester
▪ at the end they prepare a report and discuss the project in front of
the academic and the industrial tutor and the other students
Elective courses on core topics
Course title Credits (CFU)
Advanced measurement systems for control applications 5
Advanced process control 5
Advanced topics in automation and control engineering 5
Automation and control in autonomous vehicles 5
Automation and control in electric and hybrid vehicles 5
Automation of energy systems 5
Constrained numerical optimization for estimation and control 5
Control of industrial robots 5
Control of mobile robots 5
Data driven control system design 5
High-tech entrepreneurship 5
Networked control 5
Nonlinear control 5
Numerical analysis 5
Power electronics and supplies 5
Production systems control 5
Robust control 5
Safety in automation systems 5
Simulation techniques and tools 5
Systems theory 5
Vibration Control and Diagnostics of Mechanical Systems 5
 Thesis

Thesis with Thesis without

reviewer reviewer
“Tesi” “Tesina”
Expected outcome an innovative project a (maybe less)
in the field of innovative project in
automation and the field of automation
control and control

Reviewer required yes no

Maximum increment
for the final grade 7/110 4/110
 Training beyond the MSc programme

Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) – www.pok.polimi.it

POLIMI portal of free online courses to support students in their
academic and professional career. A certificate of attendance is
provided if the final test is passed.

Passion in action – www.polimi.it/en/programmes/innovative-teaching

open participation teaching activities that the Politecnico offers to its
students to support the development of transversal, soft and social
skills. Acquired skills will be accredited on the Diploma Supplement.
 Degree awards

Degree awards for the Best MSc Thesis in Automation and Control
Engineering entitled to
• prof. Claudio Maffezzoni
for the best thesis on the Application of advanced techniques for
automation and control in highly technological fields

• prof. Nicola Schiavoni

for the best thesis on the Development of innovative methodologies
for automation and control
 Honours Programme

Honours Programme ‘Scientific Research in Information Technology’

• extracurricular programme to train MSc students in conducting
scientific research in Information technology
• the Honours Programme title is reported in the students' transcript
together with a description of the conducted activities
• three main topics for Automation and Control Engineering:
o Theory and application of control systems
o Optimization and control of complex systems
o Robotics, Mechatronics, and Industrial Automation

www.honours-programme.deib.polimi.it
 International mobility

Opportunities for gaining experience

abroad:
• study mobility
attending courses or working on
the thesis
• double degree
two degrees in three years with at
least 60 CFU of exams @POLIMI

www.polimi.it/en/services-and-opportunities/experience-abroad/
 Some research areas

• automation in vehicles and

transportation systems
• collaborative robotics and
mechatronics
• automation in energy systems
and integration of renewables
Automation in vehicles and transport

self-charging e-bike advanced driver assistance system

 Collaborative robotics

with a dual-arm robot with an industrial manipulator

 Mechatronics

in the countryside in town

Energy systems and renewables

power kite to convert wind energy into electricity

 Study of methods and algorithms

New applications call for the development of suitable methods

and algorithms for
• prediction
• learning from data
• planning and trajectory tracking
• predictive control in presence of constraints
• verification and control of cyber-physical systems
• distributed optimization of interconnected systems
…
 Career opportunities

• companies that produce hardware and software for automation

• companies that design and manufacture machines or plants with
high level of automation
• companies that manage automated production plants
• corporations or companies that manage large-scale networks and
services
• engineering and consulting firms that design and project complex,
economically challenging and technologically advanced plants and
systems
Offers for Automation Engineers

Career Service – 2019

 Employment statistics

2020 Survey – MSc students graduated in 2018

1.650

PERCENTAGE CALCULATED ON
1 YEAR AFTER GRADUATION EMPLOYED WITHIN 1 YEAR
AFTER GRADUATION

Career Service
www.ccsatm.polimi.it