Fall School on Model Predictive Control and Reinforcement Learning

Block Course, 07.10.2026 - 16.10.2026, 9:00-18:00

 



Lecturers: Prof. Dr. Joschka Boedecker (Uni Freiburg), Prof. Dr. Moritz Diehl (Uni Freiburg), Prof. Dr. Sebastien Gros (NTNU Trondheim), Dr. Armin Nurkanović (Uni Freiburg)

Organizers: Leonard Fichtner,  Jasper Hoffmann

Contacts: for any questions feel free to contact us mpcrl@cs.uni-freiburg.de.

We are excited to announce the fifth edition of this block course, building on the success of the previous editions (MPCRL25, MPCRL23, MPCRL22, MPCRL21)!

This comprehensive course spans 8 days over one and a half weeks and consists out of two parts:

Part I: Introduction to MPC and RL. In the first week, we introduce model predictive control (MPC) and reinforcement learning (RL) in their fundamentals. The material will be uploaded online, in case you can not attend the first week. 

Part II: Topics in MPCRL. In the second week, we will dive deeply into different topics of how to combine MPC and RL in theory and in practice. This will include detailed instructions how to use acados and extensions for learning.

The program will follow (approximately) the topics covered in our recent survey paper.

Lectures will be supported with intensive exercise/programming sessions. 

In this edition of the school, a special emphasis is put on projects that can be worked during the entire school. Participants will work on their own project in the domain of MPC / RL helped by the professors and the tutors. The project work can be an exciting opportunity to share ideas and collaborate with other participants.

Many projects developed in the past has led to peer-review publications!

In the exercises we will teach how to use our state-of-the-art software packages

  • acados: Fast and embedded solvers for nonlinear optimal control.
  • leap-c: Framework for efficient combination of MPC and RL using acados.

Registration Open

For registration, please complete this form.

Registration deadline: within August 31, 2026, until the limit of 60 participants is reached (first come first served). 

Participation fee: 400 EUR (free of charge for master’s students from the University of Freiburg). The fee includes like coffee breaks during the event, a welcome reception, and a dinner with the participants. Payments detail will be send by mail.

Cancellation policy: no refund possible.

Registration for master students of Uni Freiburg is free of charge, please fill this form: tbd
 

Please note that your registration will be considered complete only after we have received your payment. You will receive bank transfer details via email shortly after submitting your registration form. As registrations are processed manually, please allow some time before receiving your confirmation email.

Locations: 

  • Lectures: Kollegiengebäude I, HS 1199, Platz der Universität 3, 79098 Freiburg, Google Maps, Technische Fakultät tba
  • Welcome reception: tba
  • Dinner: tba

Freiburg mobility services:

Freiburg has a reliable tram services and many bike roads.

  • You can buy tickets on the tram/bus or from the mobile app of VAG (local transportation company)  GooglePlay, AppStore
  • You can rent Frelo bikes at the Frelo stations dislocated around the city and you can ride your bike for 30 mins and bring it back to a Frelo station (this service for 6 Euro per month) Frelo website.

Event announcement: MPCRL26

Download our flyer and feel free to share it!

Preliminary timetable

AN: Armin Nurkanović, JB: Joschka Boedecker, MD: Moritz Diehl, SG: Sebastien Gros, LF: Leonard Fichtner,  JH: Jasper Hoffmann, AA: Akhil Anand

Possible lunch locations during the school in the second week

  • Mensa Rempartstraße (payment only with mensa card which can is issued at the entrance of the mensa, if you can prove to be a student you will have student prices, approx., 5 Euro per meal)
  • Veggie Liebe (falafel), Blauer Fuchs (restaurant)
  • Several diners (salads, burgers, kebab, backery) in Niemenstr. GMaps

 

Some Freiburg Recommendations by Leonard

  • Freiburger Münster: Beautiful Gothic cathedral in the heart of the old town. For a small fee, it is also possible to climb the stairs of the tower.
  • Schlossberg & Kanonenplatz: A forested hill right next to the old town. A small hike will lead you to panoramic views over Freiburg, with a viewpoint tower on top of the Schlossberg. An even smaller hike will take you to the Kanonenplatz, which is a classic sunset spot with a nice view over Freiburg already. There is also a funicular that will take you to restaurant Dattler.  
  • Schauinsland: The "city-mountain" of Freiburg. It offers a great view over Freiburg and its surroundings, on clear days you can even see the alps. Usually people would take between half a day and one day of time for a trip there, so this is recommendable if you stay over the weekend, and the weather is sufficiently nice. The foot of the mountain is well-reachable by public transport and from there you can also use a cable car to reach the top.
  • Restaurants / Bars:
    • Feierling: Nice microbrewery with food, also offers to sit in its Biergarten next to the main building.
    • Martinsbräu: Another nice microbrewery with food.
    • Kastaniengarten: Nice Biergarten (hence, preferably visit at good weather) at the foot of the Schlossberg.
    • One Trick Pony: Awesome cocktail bar. The people there know their work, but it is more expensive than usual.
    • O'Kellys / Oscar Wilde's: Good Irish Pubs
    • Other generally good bars: Schlappen, Schwarzer Kater, Alter Simon, Uni Café.
    • Markthalle: The "market hall" offers a wide variety of foods.
    • Unkai: Asia restaurant, in particular offering nice all-you-can-eat sushi. There is one located in the central city, and one to the north-west of Freiburg.
    • Dattler: Nice restaurant located on the Schlossberg.
    • Kartoffelhaus: Nice potato-themed restaurant.
    • Bar Denia: Good restaurant offering tapas.
    • Goldener Anker: Good traditional german food.

Formal requirements for students of the university of Freiburg.

Tbd