Homepage - ACE - Automatic Control Engineering Network

GCRC Ageing Society - Nurturing Health and Independence from Cradle to Age

Automatic Control Engineering (ACE) plays a vital role in enhancing quality of life at all stages. From optimizing infant incubators to developing advanced prosthetics, ACE underpins technologies that support human development and well-being. As we age, ACE continues to be instrumental, enabling independent living through smart homes, assistive devices, and healthcare innovations. By understanding and controlling complex systems, from biological processes to human-machine interactions, ACE contributes significantly to a healthier and more fulfilling life for people of all ages.

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GCRC Clean Growth - Automatic Control Engineering for a Sustainable Future

Automatic control engineering (ACE) plays a pivotal role in driving sustainable development and addressing global challenges. ACE is at the forefront of clean growth, from optimising power grids and manufacturing processes to enhancing agricultural efficiency and mitigating climate change. By developing advanced control systems, ACE contributes to a more sustainable future.

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GCRC Future Mobility - Driving Smarter Systems

Automatic Control Engineering (ACE) is at the forefront of revolutionising transportation. By developing advanced control systems, ACE enables the creation of intelligent and efficient transportation networks. From optimising traffic flow in smart cities to ensuring the safe operation of autonomous vehicles, ACE is essential for building the future of mobility.

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GCRC AI and Data - Powering the AI Revolution

Automatic Control Engineering (ACE) is a cornerstone of today’s artificial intelligence and data science. Through techniques like systems identification, signal processing, and adaptive control, ACE provides the essential tools for training and deploying intelligent systems. By developing algorithms that enable machines to learn and adapt, ACE is driving innovation in fields such as robotics, autonomous vehicles, and predictive analytics.

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ABOUT US

ACE unites experts in automation across AI & Data, Clean Growth, Future Mobility, and Ageing Society. We aim to drive research and global leadership in next-generation automation and control. Together with industry and research partners, we will tackle critical societal challenges and shape a brighter future.

LATEST NEWS

ACE-Lab Workshops 2026

23 July 2026

The ACE-Lab Practical Model-Based Control Engineering Workshops are a series of hands-on workshops led by ACE-Lab, providing an introduction to Model-Based Design for control systems using MATLAB and Simulink alongside portable, low-cost hardware platforms.

The workshops are designed to demonstrate a complete workflow, from the definition of engineering requirements through controller design, implementation, testing and validation. Participants will work through practical examples and gain experience of applying control concepts to real systems.

Five workshops will be delivered across the United Kingdom and Ireland during September and October 2026.

ACE Network / UKACC/ MathWorks Early Career Researchers & PhD Summer School 2026

7 July 2026

The ACE Network, in collaboration with UKACC and MathWorks, is pleased to announce a two-day summer school for Early Career Researchers (ECRs) and PhD students working in the field of automatic control.

ACE Network Community Consultations

2 June 2026

As the ACE Network enters the final months of its current funding period, which runs until the end of 2026, we are launching two community consultations to help shape the future of the UK automation and control engineering community.

ACE Network Position Paper

16 April 2026

The UK Automatic Control Engineering (ACE) Network has published a new Position Paper making the case for Automatic Control Engineering as a critical national capability for the UK’s prosperity, security and sustainable growth.

Control 2026

22 January 2026

The ACE & UKACC Control Conference 2026, a flagship conference for the automatic control community, will take place from 23–25 June 2026, bringing together the UK control community for three days of discussion, exchange, and engagement across academia, industry, and practice. Hosted at Newcastle University’s Frederick Douglass Centre, offering modern facilities in the heart of a vibrant and accessible city.

AI and Data Talk Series

14 January 2026

We are thrilled to announce the AI and Data Talk Series — an engaging lecture series presented by the ACE AI and Data Grand Challenge Research Committee. This series aims to elevate awareness and foster dialogue among a diverse audience, including established researchers, industry professionals, and early career scholars, about the vital intersection of control theory and AI technologies.

BECOME A MEMBER

Join the ACE Network and be part of shaping the future of control engineering. By becoming a member, you’ll gain access to a community of experts, stay updated on the latest advancements, and contribute to groundbreaking research.